641440-1895-Report-of-the-Captain-Superintendent-of-Police-for-1894 — Page 4

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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 16TH MARCH, 1895.

6. The most unsatisfactory feature in the year's returns is the increase in the number of cases of robbery with violence, and especially the very serious nature of the gang robberies at 12, Jervois Street; 10, Winglok Street; and at 56, Winglok Street.

With regard to the increase in number of these cases it is right to mention that during the five months from the 1st of May to 30th September when from 5 to 10 per cent. of the Force was engaged on Plague work there occurred thirteen cases as against six during the same period in 1893. However, the three most serious cases occurred after the men had all returned to regular duty. The winter months are, of course, the most dangerous; and it is worthy of note that it is reported from Canton that gang robberies of a similar nature have been very rife there this winter.

I should also point out the extraordinary ease with which these robberies can be effected.

In the Jervois Street and the two Winglok Street cases for instance, the inmates of the shops out- numbered the robbers by more than two to one, and yet in each case they never offered the slightest resistance or endeavoured to communicate the alarm to persons in the street or their neighbours.

The robbers, of course, rely on this passivity and are enabled, unless some accident happens, as at 56, Winglok Street, to carry out one of these raids under the very noses of the Police.

But it is not only in the presence of robbers that the shopman's courage fails him. In the second Winglok Street case the inmates of the shop although they admitted being able to identify the robbers absolutely refused to accompany the Police in the search for the men.

One of their number was at last induced to lend his services, but it is not too much to say that he was virtually compelled to acquiesce. After 2 hours' search he asked to go home, and it was necessary to practically detain him in a Police Station all night lest he should not be forthcoming for the morning search.

After the arrest of the five men concerned in the robbery at 56, Winglok Street, it was of course desired to ascertain, if possible, whether they were the same gang that had robbed No. 10 in the same street.

The inmates of the latter shop were asked to go up to the Gaol and look at the men and they emphatically refused to do so.

There are two remedies to prevent the recurrence of such outrages as these robberies constitute. One, of course, is to keep the Police Force up to its full strength as far as possible throughout the year, and the other is to perfect the Chinese detective branch of the Force drawing at the same time all the assistance possible from the District Watchmen's Force which should be brought into closer touch with the Police.

7. I referred in my report of last year to the number of larcenies by servants. I regret to say that there was no diminution in this particular form of offence during 1894.

Nineteen watches were reported as stolen, and of these only four were recovered by the Police although no trouble was spared to trace the property the great bulk of which is, I think, taken into the interior of China and either melted down or sold to local magnates.

Even when the Police succeed in tracing one of these thieves to his native village it does not follow as a consequence that the Chinese authorities will assist much in recovering the property.

Take, for example, the case of the $225.00 and gold watch stolen from Mr. H. M. MEHTA by his chair coolie. Although the watch had actually been seen by an emissary of the Police in a certain village, the Chinese officials failed to recover it although after five months' correspondence they did produce half of the number of dollars.

I suggested registration of servants last year as a safeguard against these larcenies, and I have since recommended that licensing of servants be made compulsory by law. I am aware that the law which formerly existed on this subject became a dead letter. But the only reason for that was the apathy of residents in this Colony.

It was too much trouble to spend ten minutes in registering a servant before engaging him, and so a boy who has robbed his former master or a chair coolie who has misconducted himself and been dismissed find employment probably next door where they possibly repeat the same offences.

I regard the licensing of private chair coolies at any rate as a most desirable and even necessary measure in the interests of law and order. The Hongkong private chair coolie is one of the most impudent and unruly members of this community, and the sole reason is that neither his master nor the Police have direct control over him.

If he were licensed as a public chair coolie or jinricksha coolie is, a very great improvement would be speedily observed in his behaviour.

8. I have already reported fully on the clan disturbances between Tung Koon and Sz Yap coolies which disgraced this Colony in March last resulting in one man being shot dead and several others wounded by revolver shots and knives.

The fight had its origin in a collision between processionists of the two factions during the monster celebration both on land and water of the Feast of Lanterns last year.