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Since October, 1904 the finger prints of all persons arrested for all criminal offences have been taken by Police at the time of arrest, for the purpose of detecting previous con- victions. The old system of taking the prisoners into the gaol to see whether the warders can recognize them as old offenders has been continued concurrently. By means of the finger prints I identified during the year 123 persons as being old offenders. Of these, 103 had served sentences in gaol, 19 had been convicted of unlawful possession and paid their fines, and 1 was a man who had been banished from the Straits Settlements. Of the 103 who had been in gaol all except 7 were recognised independently by the warders, but those who had not been in gaol would, but for the finger prints, almost certainly have gone unrecognised as previous offenders.

CONDUCT.

57

26. The conduct of the European Contigent has been on the whole very good. The total number of reports against them was 73, as against 74 in 1904. There were 12 reports for being drunk or under the influence of drink, of which 5 were "on duty" or "for duty *as against 13 in 1904, the remainder being off duty; 1 for asleep on duty (same as last

year), 12 for disorderly conduct, and 12 for neglect of duty.

The conduct of the Indian Contingent shows a marked improvement on the previous year and may be considered satisfactory. There were 384 reports, as against 514 for the preceding year. For drunkenness there were 36, as against 56, for disorderly conduct 20, as against 31, for neglect of duty 31, as against 53, for absence from duty 75, as against 78, for gossiping and idling on duty 83, as against 94, and for asleep on duty 15, as against 29. Six Indian Constables were convicted by the Police Magistrate-3 for assault, 1 for inde- cent assault and 2 for bringing a false charge.

The behaviour of the Chinese Contingent was a little better than in 1904 but can hardly vet be considered satisfactory. There were altogether 996 reports, as against 1,031 in 1904. There was one report for drunkenness (same as last year), 87 for asleep on duty, as against 126, 35 for disorderly conduct, as against 29, and 361 for minor offences, as against 405.

Ten Chinese Constables were convicted by the Police Magistrate-2 for assault, 5 for larceny, 1 for misconduct, 1 for desertion and 1 for allowing a prisoner to escape.

The seamen, coxswains and stokers had 242 reports, as compared with 256 for last year. For drunkenness there was 1, as against 5 in 1904, 147 for absence from station and late for duty, as against 133 in the previous year.

One seaman was convicted by the Police Magistrate for larceny and one stoker for absence from duty.

REWARDS.

27. One Chinese Detective was granted rewards on three different occasions (1) for good work done in successful raiding up a big lottery establishment, (2) for good work done in -connection with a case of armed robbery on Lantao Island, (3) for success in arresting a man for burglary at Mong Kok. One Chinese Detective for good work done in an armed robbery case and one Indian Constable for creditable capture of two men for the theft of bullocks at Sha Tau Kok.

HEALTH.

28. Admissions to Hospital during the last three years were as follows:

Nationality.

Europeans, Indians,..

Chinese,

*1903. Strength,

1904. Strength,

921.

993.

1905. Strength, 1,018.

· 122

111

102

407

317

407

193

226

187

Return of Police treated in Government Civil Hospital for fever or dengue fever from 1st January to 31st December, 1905:---

Europeans,

Indians,

Chinese,..

Nationality.

Old Territory.

13

52

$7

26

New Territory.

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