Sessional_Paper_1890 — Page 166

HONGKONG.

REPORT OF THE CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE FOR 1889.

163

No.

4

90,

Presented to the Legislative Council, by Command of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government.

No. 15.

POLICE DEPARTMENT,

28th January, 1890.

SIR, I have the honour to forward, for the information of His Excellency the Governor, the Criminal Statistics for the year 1889. They show that 7,461 cases were reported to the Police during the last year, being a decrease of 653 cases or 8.04 per cent. on the return for 1888. In the sub- division of these cases into Serious Crimes (so called) and Minor Offences an increase of 457 cases or 18.76 per cent. is found in Serious Crimes, and a decrease of 1,110 cases or 19.54 per cent. in Minor Offences. The proportion of convictions for Serious Crimes is 3 per cent. higher than in the previous year.

2. If the house building and population increase in the same way that they have done for the last few years, it will be necessary to apply for an increase of the land force.

3. The adoption of telephones instead of the somewhat antiquated magnetic instruments used for the Police telegraphs is under consideration, and I propose in the next requisition of Stores from England to include three standard Police Alarms of the kind that have lately been tried in London; they may prove to be serviceable, if placed at the Clock Tower, the Chinese Recreation Ground, and near the Albany.

I have the honour to be,

The Honourable

COLONIAL SEcretary.

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

W. M. DEANE,

Captain Superintendent of Police.