Sessional_Paper_1896 — Page 108

HONGKONG.

REPORT OF THE ACTING CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE FOR 1895.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor,

105

No. 9

96

No. 46.

POLICE OFFICE, HONGKONG, 15th February, 1896.

SIR,-I have the honour to submit for the information of His Excellency the Governor the criminal statistics and the report on the Police Force for the year 1895.

2. The statistics show an increase as compared with the return of last year of 54.85 per cent. in the total of all cases reported to the Police, In the sub-division of these cases into serious and minor offences there appears an increase as compared with last year of 7.45 per cent. in the former, and of 74.99 in the latter category. The reason for this increase in serious crime is probably to be found in the fact that during at least three months of 1894 during the epidemic the town was largely depleted of its Chinese population in which doubtless many of the thieving class as well as their prey were absent. This idea is strengthened by a comparison of 1895 with 1893 which was a normal year as to population-this comparison shows an increase of only 1.54 per cent. in 1895 over 1893. The increase in minor offences is largely due to miscellaneous offences which may be classed as offences against sanitary arrangements, good order in streets, and kindred offences, while the enforcement of the Light and Pass Ordinance is responsible for 2,005 more cases than in 1894.

3. Three Murders came under notice of the Police in 1895 :-

1. On the 14th February about 9 p.m. HAVILDAR UMRAZ KHAN, Hongkong Regiment, was shot near the camp and died the next morning. His supposed assailant Private NANAL SHAH was arrested on the statement of the wounded man, but no other evidence was obtainable and the man was discharged at the Police Court.

2. On the 18th February a quarrel took place in a boat lying off Bonham Strand between four Chinese boatmen. Two were wounded and sent to Hospital, one of these men SING SHEUNG Li died from the effects of his wounds on the 27th February.

3. JOHN GUNDERSON, seaman, belonging to the Geo. F. Manson, sailing ship, was reported missing from his vessel on the 6th October and was subsequently found murdered on Cowec Chau Island. Two boat people, a man and his wife (in whose boat GUNDERSON is said to have been), were arrested and charged with the murder but were discharged for want of evidence at the October Sessions.

HIGHWAY ROBBERIES.

1. On the 19th January a man was stopped, pepper thrown in his eyes by three men (one armed with a knife) on the Shaukiwan Road between Bay View and North Point and money stolen from him to the amount of $370.

2. On the 24th January a man was stopped on the Magazine Gap Road by three men one of whom was armed with a knife and who robbed him of clothing and money value $14.

3. On the 5th February a woman while crossing the Military Rifle Range was assaulted and robbed of ten silver dollars by two men.

4. On the 16th July a man was stopped on the Shaukiwan Road and robbed of five dollars by two

men.

5. On the 9th September a boy was thrown down by another on the Bonham Road and robbed of a bangle valued at $6.

6. On the 1st October two men stopped another on the Morrison Hill Road, threw tobacco dust on his face and robbed him of $20.

GANG ROBBERIES.

1. On the 18th November about 6.30 p.m., three men armed with revolvers entered No. 106, Praya West, overawed the shop people and stole a silver watch value $5.

2. On the 22nd November at 9.30 p.m., three men armed with revolvers entered No. 124, Wellington Street (raw opium shop) and similarly robbed the people stealing notes and silver value $900.