Sessional_Paper_1884 — Page 101

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that take the opium are not fitted up for smuggling purposes. As to salt, the smug- gling junks come to Aberdeen, cleared from Yaumáti and Victoria, during the S.W. monsoon, and go through the Aberdeen pass, and pass to the South of the Lamma Island and West of Lant'au, thus avoiding the Kapshuimún Station. These junks are generally more heavily armed than the ordinary trading junks. I have never seen any fights in British waters. In June of last year the Master of a junk reported to me a fight that had occurred between his junk and a Chinese Cruiser, in which two of his men were killed, and the others swam ashore to the Lamma Island. He said this occurred in British waters, between Aplichau and the Lamma Island. The junk was laden with saltpetre and sulphur. This is the only fight that has been reported to me,

SIXTH MEETING,

13th April, 1883.

Present:-Sir GEORGE PHILLIPPO, Chief Justice, (Chairman).

His Honour Mr. Justice RUSSELL, Puisne Judge.

Honourable F. B. JOHNSON, M.L.C.

Mr. J. H. STEWART-LOCKHART, (Secretary).

The accompanying statement, made to the Secretary, was read over to Inspector RIVERS and declared by him to be correct.

WILLIAM RIVERS, Inspector, states:-I have been in the Police force almost 13 years. I was in Aberdeen as Inspector and Harbour Officer from May, 1874, to January, 1876, and in Stanley from August, 1877, to February, 1879. During that time I had never occasion to report anything in connection with smuggling. The recent saltpetre case is the only one of smuggling I have ever had anything to do with. I see post have never seen any fights in Chinese waters, nor seizures by Chinese Revenue Cruisers in Hongkong waters. I have seen such Cruisers towing junks out at sea past Stanley Bay, but out of Hongkong waters.

When asked by the Commission if he had any further remarks to offer, he replied that he had nothing except that during the 16 months he was stationed at Stanley he saw what he suspected, but not proved to be salt smuggling junks towed by Revenue Cruisers.

pages 76-82.

The accompanying statement is read over to Inspector CRADOCK and declared by him to be correct. In addition to what he has already stated, he refers to the Police Sept report of the 24th January, 1883, and of the 28th March, 1883.

pages

99 & 101.

post

JAMES CRADOCK, Inspector in charge of the Water Police, states :—I have been in the Police force almost 16 years. I have been in charge of out-stations for 12 or more years. When Acting Chief Inspector I made a report about the 21st September, espe 1882, in a case that occurred at Shaukiwán. There were a number of prisoners detained at that Station, who had taken refuge there from what I was informed were Chinese Revenue Cruisers. They were discharged.