709139-1868-GOVERNMENT-NOTIFICATION-NO-34 — Page 2

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 14TH MARCH, 1868.

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15. I do not think it would be out of place here to give some account of the working of the recently enacted Ordinance which almost entirely affects the Chinese. I refer, of course to the "Victoria Registration Ordinance 1866," and in order that the material results of that Act may be seen, I annex certain Returns (A) shewing among other things the number of Certificates issued, the Fees received therefor, and the prosecutions which have been sustained.

16. Many defects have cropped up in the operation of the Ordinance, which it is unnecessary to enlarge upon in this Report, but on the whole, it can safely be said that the introduction of such legislation was a success, and that much public good has been derived from it.

17. There can be no doubt that the responsibility thrown on the Householders of preventing the Tenants or Occupants of their houses from committing any breach of the laws, relating to the illicit sale of Spirits, the keeping of un-registered Brothels or Public Gambling Houses, has materially assisted in putting down those offences. Nor as far as the Chinese are concerned has there been any opposition to carrying out what was required. Except in a few instances, a ready compliance has been observed on all sides.

18. But these remarks refer more especially to the Registration of Houses. The Registration of Servants has been far otherwise, and I am inclined to consider its partial failure due more especially to the want of support which the measure has received at the hands of the Foreign Community. Still much good has resulted and is likely to be strengthened as time progresses, for as any member of the body of Foreign Residents conscientiously observes, not only the letter, but the spirit of the enactment, so does he assist towards purging the community of a class of men, who have an organized system for com- mitting petty robberies.

19. Great laxity, however, is displayed by the Colonists in this matter, who, for the most part, seem to forget that the Ordinance was passed solely for their protection, and not as a means of Revenue. No law is perfect, but if the Community had rendered the assistance, which I believe they were bound to give towards allowing the Registration Ordinance a fair chance of remedying a very palpable defect in this portion of our municipal legislation, matters would bear a very different aspect to that which they do at present, and the Executive might have seen its way towards advantageously legislating afresh in the same direction. At it is, so great is the apparent passive opposition displayed, that I hesitate to suggest alterations, firmly believing that if the Police Court is the only means of compelling the Foreign Residents to assist towards self-protection, no good result is ever likely to arise.

20. I proceed, however, to that portion of the Registration Ordinance, by which has been established a body of men, acting as a help to the Police Force of the Colony. Some considerable time and labor was expended by myself in creating, as it were, this auxiliary Force. And the month of August arrived ere I was enabled to state that the special Watchmen could be recognized by the Executive.

21. Much jealousy was at first displayed as to the powers which were to be exercised in controlling the Watchmen. Some thought that a Central Committee of Chinese Merchants appointed by the Native Community would act as the best Medium between the Watchmen and the Government Police, who should receive and report on the information which might be gathered from this new aid to the Executive, while others held it advisable that each District should have its own Council, to which the Watchmen in that District should be surbordinate.

22. The difficulty of my position in this matter will be understood when I call to mind that this additional Force was to be supported solely by the Inhabitants of the different Districts and was to receive no aid whatever from Government.

23. It is true that under the Ordinance, powers were conferred on the Registrar General as regards the Watchmen, but they depended, in the first instance, on the action of the Chinese in recommending or not chosing to recommend fit Persons for the posts of Chief or other Watchmen.

24. After much discussion, however, the Community of the Five Districts to the West of the Parade Ground, agreed to elect a certain number of their body to act Watchmen, whose pay should be disbursed by themselves and be collected from house to house by men especially appointed for the purpose. Thus five Chief Watchmen, (and one subsequently appointed for Wanchai,) as well as 40 Ordinary Watchmen were recommended and appointed by His Excellency The Governor. The pay of the former is at the rate of $20, and of the latter at $8 per mensem. In addition, five Stations are rented for their occupa- tion, and a uniform Coat provided from the special fund. The accounts are kept in this Office, and are open at any time to inspection.

25. Subject to correction,-for I know that there is much diversity of opinion as to the advisability of employing Chinese at all as Police,-I consider that a very valuable nucleus for Police purposes has been formed, from which, if unanimity between the Government Constables and the Watchmen is maintained and cultivated, great public advantage may be reaped. This Report, however, would be greatly lengthened, and perhaps unnecessarily so, were detailed reasons given for this opinion, which I believe are patent to those who will bear in mind the great difference between the present and past times, in that now we have men capable, however imperfectly, of communicating with, directly supervising, and understanding the class with which they have to deal.

26. Nor have the Watchmen been idle during the short time which they have been doing duty, as the accompanying Return (B) will shew. But not having in the first instance instituted any accurate means of recording their acts, a mistake since remedied--much labor would be incurred in tracing the assistance given, in all instances, in the interests of Justice.

27. But writing generally, I may say that my expectations never led me to suppose that they would take a very pro- minent part in apprehending criminals, and become of much notoriety. It was rather as a detective force that much assistance was looked for, and, according to the recognized Chinese Custom, those who pay for their support expect them to keep the vagabonds and bad characters from congregating in their different Districts.

28. It is a fact, however, that during the latter portion of last Year, Crime had diminished, and some credit I consider due to the Watchmen appointed by the Native Community. Seeing them every day, much information, which could not otherwise be obtained, is learnt, and among themselves they are not likely to become very corrupt, as any instance of dis- honesty would surely come to the knowledge of one or other of the residents, from whom a well substantiated report of irregularity in duty would entail instant dismissal and punishment.

29. This Report has reached a greater length than was originally intended, nevertheless, it would not be complete without some allusion to the Stamp Act, and its effect on the Chinese Community. Indeed, were the subject passed by without comment it might be suggested that I adopted such a course purposely. But my only reason for so acting would be that I had so recently handed in a general Report on the subject. Still as I am now passing under review the state of the Colony so far as the Chinese are concerned, I may shortly state that no enactment, as it at present stands, could have been less burdensome or less vexatious to the Native portion of the Colonial residents. Instead of the Stamp Act being a blow to Chinese trade, from personal observation and minute enquiry it appears to have had no such influence, and I am quite sure that no satisfactory or reliable evidence of its unpopularity can be gleaned from those who are put forward by some as being of their own accord actively opposed to the measure.

30. Finally, I may add that although trade generally during the Year 1867 has been far from flourishing, yet the Colony appears to be on as sound a footing, and in as healthy a state as in many previous Years when business of all kinds was thriving and increasing.

CECIL C. SMITH, Registrar General.