Sessional_Paper_1899 — Page 134

131

No. 8

99

HONGKONG.

REPORT OF THE CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE FOR THE YEAR 1898.

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

No. 34.

POLICE OFFICE, HONGKONG, 31st January, 1899.

SIR-I have the honour to forward, for the information of His Excellency the Governor, the Criminal Statistics and Report on the Police Force for the year 1898.

2. The total of all cases reported to the Police was 10,596 being an increase of 967 cases or 10.04 per cent over 1897.

In the division of these cases into Serious and Minor Offences, there appears an increase as compared with 1897 of 39 cases or 1.34% in the former, and of 928 cases or 13.78% in the latter.

3. Table A shows the number and character of the Serious and Minor Offences reported to the Police during the past year, and the number of persons convicted and discharged in connection with those offences.

4. The increase as compared with 1897 in Serious Offences of 39 is shewn as follows :—

Burglary or Larceny in Dwelling,

Assault with intent to rob,

Unlawful possession....

Larceny,.

Deduct decrease in-

Murder,

11

1

..38

.45

95

7

Robbery,

7

Kidnapping and Protection of Women and Children,..........................19 Felonies not already given,

.23

56

Total increase, .............

39

The decrease in crime of a violent nature is satisfactory.

5.

MURDER.

(1.) On the 9th of May, FRANCISCO XAVIER DE JESUS, residing at No. 2 West Terrace, was shot dead in his house by João DE MATTA OZORIO, who was convicted and hanged. OZORIO accused DE JESUS of having illicit intercourse with his fiancée.

(2.) WAN HUNG who murdered his wife CHAN LAI KIU on the 18th of September. 1897, (vide para. 5 of my report for that year) was arrested in Hongkong on the 14th of June, 1898, convicted and hanged.

6.

GANG ROBBERIES.

(1.) On 7th March at 7.45 p.m. a number of men armed with revolvers, swords and knives, entered No. 14 Mong Kok Tsui, Kowloon, the offices of a timber yard, tied the master's hands, gagged him and stole money, jewellery and clothing, value $220.50. Seven men were arrested and convicted.