Sessional_Paper_1896 — Page 109

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STREET ROBBERIES.

1. On the 30th December, 1894, a man was drugged and robbed of $20, by gamblers in Third Street. His report was considered doubtful as he had been gambling.

2. About midnight, the 3rd and 4th January, a man boarded a boat in Yaumati Harbour, seized a woman by the throat and stole from the boat some jewellery. Four men were concerned.

3. On the 3rd July two men threw pepper in the eyes of another in Queen's Road West and robbed him of a bundle of clothing value $2.

4. On the 12th July a man was robbed of his purse containing 35 cents by three men in Queen's Road Central.

5. On the 15th August a man was pushed down in Fat Hing Street by three men who robbed him of $7.25.

Two cases, included in the Returns as Felonies not already given, occurred in Manila and were sent here by the Consular Authorities to be tried.

4 Europeans. Attempted Murder, April Sessions, Ship Launburga. Convicted.

1 European, Manslaughter, June Sessions, Ship Esther Roy. Value of Property reported stolen during the year $57,559. Recovered by the Police and restored to owners $12,049, Articles reported lost 132, valued at $2,752.

Articles found 63, valued at $736.

Articles claimed by owners 32.

Convicted.

3. The coal and cargo coolies struck on the 23rd March in consequence of the enforcement from the 1st January of the bye-laws for the licensing and registration of common lodging-houses under the Public Health Ordinance.

Every endeavour had been made by the Registrar General to explain the bye-laws, not only personally to the keepers of the houses but also by the circulation of 3,000 printed translations of the bye-laws.

On the 20th March, 27 of the principal lodging-house keepers were afforded another opportunity to conform to the bye-laws, by the Acting President of the Sanitary Board, who desired them to attend at his office. Not one attended and they were all summoned.

On the 22nd only one keeper answered to his summons at the Magistracy.

Warrants were issued for the other 26, search was made for them, but they had absconded,

The Police were strengthened and picquets patrolled the streets, as well as the harbour in pinnaces. On the 23rd on the arrival of the Macão steamer the only attempt at a disturbance took place. A number of stevedore coolies on strike endeavoured to interfere with the coolies who attended regularly to carry baggage and goods ashore.

The Police had no difficulty in dispersing the crowd, and two men were arrested (by Chinese Constables), convicted and fined $15 each or six weeks hard labour.

By the evening 3,000 coolies were on strike,

On the 24th the whole of the coal coolies joined the strikers.

On the 25th fifty convicts coaled the S.S. Verona and 100 men of the Rifle Brigade discharged the S.S. Pekin.

The 200 Swatow coolies of the Kowloon Godown Company did not strike being protected by a guard of the Hongkong Regiment who guarded the wharves till the end of the strike.

There was an arrest for intimidation this day, the 25th, in Victoria, the prisoner being convicted and sentenced to three months hard labour..

The hands in the Quarry Bay Refinery struck work.

On the 25th and 26th several steamers went round to Aberdeen and discharged cargo there, the coolies being guarded by Police in launches afloat, and by patrols on the roads.

On the 26th the cargo boatmen endeavoured to strike, but on being warned by the Police that they could not leave the waters of the Colony without a clearance, and their securities being dealt with by the Registrar General, remained passive, though private individuals could only hire them through the Police.

The hands at the Lee Yuen Refinery struck work.

On the 27th a depôt of cargo boats was formed by the Water Police, tosa ve time in hiring them. The coolies working at Aberdeen struck this day.

There were now 20,000 coolies on strike.

Six petty officers of the Navy were sworn in as special constables to do duty with the Water Police.

Men of the Hongkong Regiment were engaged discharging vessels.

On the 28th the Police hired 50 coolies for a local firm at $1 a day, but the firm subsequently

declined to pay such large wages fearing to prejudice future rates.

This day the hands at Hung Hom Docks began to be restless, two strangers, doubtless emissaries from the strikers, were however arrested and sentenced to three months hard labour as rogues and vagabonds, and the Dock hands gave no more trouble.