Sessional_Paper_1900 — Page 202

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In connection with this case two of the witnesses for the defence were subsequently convicted of subornation of perjury and perjury respectively and sentenced to 2 years' imprisonment with hard labour.

A sixth member of the party was arrested and tried in China, and has. I hear, been recently released. The seventh made good his escape, and the remaining two turned Queen's Evidence.

There was a third murder committed at the same time for which it was not possible to bring any person to justice.

The three men were murdered partly because they were believed to be spies of the British whose occupation of the New Territory was disputed by a portion of the population, and partly out of revenge for the natives whose active opposition to our troops had cost them their lives.

(3.) On the 27th May a European named ANDREW MARKS residing at No. 31 Pokfulam Road murdered his wife by shooting her with a revolver and then shot himself.

(4.) On the 22nd August Pus FUK, a sawyer, was cut and wounded at Hunghom, over a dispute amongst carpenters, by two men who were arrested. PUN FUK was sent to the Government Civil Hospital where he subsequently died. The two men were tried for nurder at the Criminal Sessions and acquitted.

(5.) On the 8th September at 9.30 p.m. six men armed entered a hut at Su Hau on Lantao Island, shot and killed the owner KUNG TIM, 45 years of age, tied up his wife, and stole a pig, paddy and clothing, &c. value $18.50. No arrest was made.

(6.) On the 24th October FUNG WAI, 41 years, coolie, 5 Sai Un Lane, was killed by a blow on the head inflicted with a carrying pole by a coolie named TANG Lor during a dispute between them about carrying cargo. TANG LO1 was convicted at the Criminal Sessions and sentenced to be hanged, but his sentence was commuted to 15 years' imprisonment with hard labour.

5.

GANG ROBBERIES.

There were 43 Gang Robberies reported during the year, 25 of which took place in the New Territory and 18 in the Old Territory. In connection with these cases 49 persons were arrested, 33 of whom were convicted and 16 discharged.

In 29 cases the value of property stolen exceeded, and in the remaining 14 cases was less than,

25 dollars.

ROBBERIES ON BOATS AND JUNKS.

Nine cases were reported, 5 of which occurred in the New Territorial Waters and 4 in the Old, 8 persons were arrested, 7 were convicted and one discharged.

HIGHWAY AND STREET ROBBERIES.

Thirty-three cases were reported, 12 of which occurred in the New Territory and 21 in the Old, 14 persons were arrested. 8 convicted and 6 discharged.

Of these Highway Robberies, four were upon Europeans, viz. :

(1.) On the 14th March a Portuguese and his wife while walking in Glenealy were attacked by two men from behind, who rubbed pepper in their eyes and robbed the man of his watch and chain value $60.

(2.) On the 29th April a European girl while in Kennedy Road was robbed of a gold

bracelet value $15 by three men.

(3.) On the 12th May while two European ladies were walking on Bowen Road, they were attacked by four men from behind, who pushed them down the hillside and robbed them of a gold watch and chain and bracelets value $115.

(4.) On the 24th July while a European lady was walking on Lower Richmond Road a Chinaman caught her by the throat threw her down and stole a piece of gold chain value $25.

In none of these four cases was any arrest made.

On the 1st August, a Chinese named KwaN Po snatched a purse containing money from a European lady in Queen's Road Central, and was pursued and arrested by a European civilian, who handed him over to the Police. The thief was identified as the man who committed the robberies on Kennedy and Lower Richmond Roads and was convicted at the Criminal Sessions for the three crimes. Since this man's arrest the robberies on the Upper Roads have ceased.

• The increase in robbery in the Old Territory over the figures for the years 1898 and 1897 is not satisfactory.

I attribute it in a great measure to the disturbed condition of the neighbouring province, where robbery and piracy are rampant.

It must also be remembered, however, that the Police Force has been very short of European Police during the year, and that a very large number of the Indian and the Chinese Police doing duty in the Old Territory were recruits with little experience.