Sessional_Paper_1900 — Page 204

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Four men were arrested in connection with the second attack on the Police, but the prosecution of them was dropped for want of sufficient evidence.

10.

GAMBLING.

There has been no recrudescence of gambling in public gambling houses during the year, but there is evidence that illegal gambling in Chinese Clubs is becoming more rife.

The Wai Seng Lottery Agencies in the Colony have not been altogether stamped out, and will always give trouble as long as the lottery is officially recognised in the neighbouring Colony of Macao.

Gambling has been suppressed in the New Territory to the great benefit, in my opinion, of the population, and the action taken by Government seems to be supported by public opinion among all the respectable inhabitants of the Territory.

11.

DRUNKENNESS.

The number of cases for the year was 28 less than that of last year.

There are in the Colony 24 houses which are licensed for the sale of intoxicating liquor on the premises. Two licensees were convicted for selling liquor during the prohibited hours-one was fined $50 and the other bound over.

12.

PROSTITUTION.

The Protection of Women and Girls Amendment Ordinance came into operation at the end of October, and under its wholesome provisions it has already been found possible to rid the Central portion of the City of an immense number of brothels which, owing to the antipathy of the Chinese and even of numbers of Europeans to protect themselves by means of Ordinances No. 14 of 1845 and No. 6 of 1894, had monopolised whole streets in the heart of the commercial and residential quarters of the City. A number of brothels have closed entirely, the inmates having left the Colony, which, it is to be hoped, will henceforth not be that centre of attraction for prostitutes from all corners of the globe that it has been in the past.

Before the end of the year three prosecutions were instituted under section 3 of the Ordinance against keepers of brothels, and two convictions obtained.

13.

PROPERTY REPORTED STOLEN AND PROPERTY RECOVERED.

The value of property stolen during the year was $76,806.69, of this amount over $8,000 in value was reported stolen in the New Territory.

The value of that recovered by the Police and restored to owners was $2,907.51.

14.

LOST PROPERTY.

The following is a return showing property lost and recovered during 1899:-

Articles lost.

Value lost.

Articles recovered and Articles found which were not reported lost.

Value found.

157

$6.719.90

134

ARMS ORDINANCE.

$1,866.24

15.

During the whole of the year a Proclamation has been in force prohibiting the export of arms. and munitions of war from the Colony.

Several important seizures of arms and ammunition about to be illicitly exported were made by the Police, including 1,029 rifles, 650 revolvers, 63,370 rounds of ammunition, 101 kegs of gunpowder, 71 bayonets and swords, 30,080 empty rifle cartridge-cases and 5,237 boxes of caps. In one of these seizures (made in Mirs Bay) a book was found shewing a systematic trade in the smuggling of arms between the Chinese Arms Dealers in Hongkong and a shop in the Kwai Sin District in China.

16.

OPIUM ORDINANCES.

One thousand four hundred and ninety-five (1,495) search warrants for prepared opium were executed by the Police and Excise Officers of the Opium Farmer. In 413 cases opium was found. Three seizures of raw opium illegally moved were made. The quantity was 27 chests of Patna and

226 catties of Malwa.