188
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 16TH APRIL, 1870.
16. In drawing this comparison it must be borne in mind that as yet the Sikhs have not had the same local experience as other members of the Indian force, and little opportunity has yet occurred for weeding out the worst men, as in the case of the Bombay and Madras Constables, who have been selected from the large number of men brought on at different times from India. cach batch having been discharged on the expiration of their first term of service.
The worst men of
17. From Appendix E will be seen the punishments inflicted on the force during the past year. No similar return was submitted last year, but I believe the conduct and discipline of the force to have considerably improved.
18. The Sikhs, than whom there are no braver or more reliable men in a critical emergency, are becoming better acquainted with their work, and many have already acquired a slight colloquial knowledge of Chinese, and are making good progress in English; being regular attendants of the evening class established by His Excellency the Governor.
19. Before suggesting any improvement in our present Police system, or deciding as to the class of men best qualified to perform the work, it is necessary to consider what the nature of the duty really is; a point which does not appear to have received sufficient attention from some who have advanced opinions on the subject. For the efficient performance of Municipal Police duty in the town of Victoria, we undoubtedly require many more Europeans than we now possess; but I fear little advantage would be derived from increasing the number unless the pay was also enhanced, as that now offered is insufficient to induce many good men to join.
20. For duty at out-stations, patrolling hill roads at night, and guarding Gaols and other Government buildings, an armed Police is necessary; and for these and similar duties, I think it will always be found expedient to retain a large Indian element in the force.
21. I consider Natives of the North of India more desirable, for work of this kind, than Europeans; they are equal in physical courage, inuch less expensive, and better able to endure the severity of this climate when night work in tic hot weather is involved.
22. In the stable we have had many casualties, four of the cleven Australian horses brought from Calcutta in March, 1867, have either died or been destroyed, and one or two of the survivors have already shown symptoms of the apparently incurable rheumatism which seems peculiar to China, and which is frequently accompanied by a honeycombed exostosis on the posterior maxillary bones.
23. A large mess-room having been given up for the use of the school, the deficient accommodation, both for officers and men in the Barracks, which was noticed in last annual report, is now felt still more severely. No stables have yet been built at Stanley, Aberdeen, or Shau'-ki-wan, and those in the Barracks are badly situated and incommodious.
24. I am indebted to Mr. Willcocks for the attached report on the Police School.
Police Barracks, 25th March, 1870.
C. VANDELEUR CREAGH,
Acting Coptain Superintendent.
ABSTRACT.
CASES.
DECREASE.
DECREASE.
DATE.
SERIOUS OFFENCES.
MINOR OFFENCES.
Number. Per Cent.
Number. Per Cent.
ALL OFFENCES.
DECREASE.
Number. Per Cent..
Latter half of 1865, Latter half of 1869,
922 452
470
51.0
1220 664
556
45.6
2142 1116
1026
47.9
PERSONS.
SERIOUS OFfences.
MINOR OFFENCES.
DATE.
ARRESTED. DISCH’GED.
CONVICTED.
Number. Per Cent.
CONVICTED.
ARRESTED. DISCH'GED.
Number.
Per Cent
Latter half of 1865, Latter half of 1869,
1020
367
653
64.0
2491
583
1908
394
98
296
75.1 -
1187
225
76.6 962 81.0
C. VANDELEUR CREAGH,
Acting Captain Superintendent.
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