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May 4, 1907.]
ANNUAL POLICE REPORT.
The annual report of the Captain-Saperint. endent of Police for the year 1906 is published in the Gazette. It shows that the total of all cases reported to the Police was 11,144, as against 11,817 in 1905, being a decrease of 378 or 8.53 per cent. In the division of these cases into serious and minor offencer, there appears an increase, as compared with 1905, of 819 cases or 11.69 per cent in the former, and a dearense of 722 onses of 8.46 per cent. in the latter. The inoreste, as compared with 1905 in serious offencer, of 349 is shown as follows:-
Murder
Kidnapping and Protection of Women
and Children
Unlawful I ossession
•
Laroenies
Felonies
Deduct decrease in
Robbery
9
266 90
18
3
3
Burglary or larceny from dwelling 31 Assault with intent to rob
Total
2
-26
It will be seen that the increase is mainly in "Unlawful Possession," the cause being the looting of wrecked property which occurred after the typhoon of the 18th September.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
Proclamation has been in foros prohibiting the export of warlike stores from the Colony, The fellowing arms and ammunition were seized and confrosted during the year, vis:— 2 revolvers, 3 rifles. 45 muskets, 70 daggers, 2,198 rounds rife ammunition, 3.513 rounts revolver ammunition, 52 rounds sporting ammunition, 21 boxes percussion caps, 255 lbs. powder, 5 lbs. dynamite and one sword stick. During the year eight Europesos and 34 Indians obtained certificates for knowledge of Chinese and seven Indians obtained certificates for English. The usual quarterly inspections of all stations were carried out by the Deputy Superintendent and Assistant -uperintendents, and I have myself made surprise inspections | at each Station. Sham Shui Po Station was almost entirely destroyed by the typhoon of 18th September, since which date the police have been temporarily housed in the village. 41 persons were identified as old offenders by means of finger impressions, of whom 18 were persons who had not served sentences in gnols, having been convicted of unlawful possession and paid their fines. Three were men who had been banished from the Straits | Settlements. Of the 120 who had been in gaol all except 11 were recognised as old offenders by the 349
gaol warders, indepen- the dently of finger prints. The col lection on the 31st December, 1906, number 6.08 male and 302 female records The conduct of the European contingent has been ou the whole very good. The total number of reports against them was 59, as against 73 in 19.5. There were 10 reports for being drunk or under the influence of drink as against 12 in 1905, one for asleep on duty (same as laat year), two for disorderly conduct and 10 for neglect of duty. Nine of the 10 cases of drunkenness, and 19 of the other offences, ware committed by men who are no longer in the force. One European constable was conriated by the Police Magistrate for assault, The conduct of the Indian contingent was only fairly satisfactory. There were 448 r ports, as gainst 384 for the preceding year. For drunkenness there were 45 as against 36, for disorderly conduct 33, as against 20, for neglect of duty 46 as against 41, for abs-nce from duty 65 as against 75, for gossiping and idling ou duty 107 as against 13 and for asleep on duty 35 as against 15. The average strength of the contingent was considerably higher than in the previous few years, and there were more recruits than usus'. Ten Indian constables were con victed by the Police Magistrate, three for disorderly conduct, one for using insulting language, three for assault, one for mis conduct as а Police constable, one for allowing a prisoner to escape and one for larcency an a bailea
The behaviour of the Chines ocntingent was not satisfactory. There were altogether 1,129 reports, as against 998 in 1905. There was one report for drunkenness (same as last year). 113 for asleep on duty as against 87,23 for disorderly conduct as against 35, and 387 for minor offence as against 361.
There were eight murders during the year, and in five cases no arrests were effected. Four men who were arrested in connection with two
coma.
of the cases were hanged. The manslaughter cases number fifteen. In one instance no arrest was effected, while in seven cases the defendants were discharged. The remainder were mitted to prison for various terms. There were 20 gang robberies reported during the year. In connection with seven of these cases, 21 prisoners were arrested, seven being couricted and 14 discharged. In 13 cases no arrest was made. Four of these robberies took place in the City of Victoria, three occurring in the Central and one in the Western District. Of the remaining 16 four were reported from Yaumati District, two from Shaukiwan, one from Pokfulam and nine from the New Territories. Sixteen cases of Street and Highway Robberies were reported. In con- nection with three of the cases four persons were arrested and convicted. In 13 cases no arrest was made. Of these robberies only one WBS проп 8 European, Nine robberies on boats and jonka
were reported of which five occurred in the New Torritories, In connection with three of these cases, persons were ariested, two being convicted and four discharged. In six cases, no arrest was made. Felonies not already mentioned com- price:-Arson and attempted arson, three cases; outting and wounding, 18; demanding money by menaces, 8; emberilement, 30; forgers, 8; housebreaking, 102?indecent assaults and 6; manslaughter, 14; shooting and wounding with intent to do grievous bodily barm, 4; trowing corrosive fluid, 3; sodomy and attempted sodomy, 5. One hundred and fifty gambling warrants were executed and convictions obtained, as against 98 in 1905, Two were lottery cases, In 36 cases no gambling was found.
The year.
Six
rape,
value of the property reported stolen during the year was 8123,569 82. The value of the property recovered by the police and restored to
the owners was $20,725.40. 3.138 Bearch warrants for prepared opium were executed by the Police and Exoire Officers of the Opium Farmer, as compared with 3,951 in 1905. In 911 cases opium was found sod 1,169 persons were arrested. The examiner of weights and measures examined 3,594 scale and measures out of which number he found 30, all belong. ing to Chiness, incorrect. A conviction w recorded in e ch instance, the total fines amounting to $1,225. In 14 prosecutions under the Dangerous goods, Ordinance, four- teen convictions were recorded, the total fres amounting to $70. There Was ODO conviction under the Food nad rugs Ordinance, the amount of the fine being $25. Licences issued to drivers and be rers of rashes, chairs and other vehicles totalled 16,677. Eight Hoences to import and deal in arms and are
Vin sporting arms and ammunition were during 1906. During the whole year a
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Ten Chinese constables were convicted by the Police Magistrate, six for assault, two for larceny, and two for misconduct as Police constables. The seamen, coxswains and stokers Ind 300 reports as compared with 242 for last For drunkenness there was no report as
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N&W TERRITORY WORK. Mr. G. F. Orme, Ämistant Superintendent of Police, reports as follows concerning the New Territory:-
The state of the Territory in 1906 has been quiet and orderly. The preater part of the robberies daring the year were reported from the direction or Mirsay, and appear to have been perpetrated by bad obaracters frequenting. the Chinese Territory on the east coast of the Bay. The land border is now fairly wall protected, and only one robbery was reported along it: the Yau Fu, Ma Tak 8han, wuo his since been promoted to a past in Geung Shan, and the other Chiness Officials have rendered active assistance in putting down border orimes, Three murders took placs during the year- at Tai Po, on Ping Chau~ Island and on the Kowloon Hills; in the first case » three men were captured by Indian police near the border and eventually executed." Larosnies and assaults were not frequsat, and the use of illicit opinm was as usual responsible for most arrests, while the practice of fishing with dynamite is still common and difficult to prevent. The health of the Police has been good through. out the year, and there is in this respect no fault to be found with any statio~ except Au Tan and Sai Kung which have suffered from fever as before. The railway work has been in progress during most of the year and has provided work and wages for a' large number of men : a few extra police were detailed for railway work, but the conduct of the workmen has so far been
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exemplary. The general prosperity of the Territory suffered a set back from the typhoon of September 18th, which, caused serious loss of life and property, but it does not appear that any widespread distress was caused thereby. Nor was any difficulty experienced in collecting most of the Crown rent, though the Sheung Shui distric', which enjoys an unfortunate proxi- mity to the gambling facilities of Buam Chao, has paid slowly, ant the landowners #ving in Chinese Territory have utilised to the full their power of passive resistance. The native paths in the valleys have deteriorated considerably, especially owing to the September rains, sad the general traffic and police patrols have suffered thereby. However, much of the inconvenience caused will cease with the construction of the the Government road from the Sha Tau Kok to, Ping Shan and Un Long.
THE FIRE BRIGADE.
C
Captain F. J. Badeley, Superintendent of the Fire Brigade, in his report for the year 1906, says there were 30 fires and 67 incipient fires during the year, as against 32 and 77 in 1905 The estimated damage oiused by fires was $858,970.00 and byaíncipent fires $21,748.00, The Brigade turn-d out 44 times during the year. There was no intermittent supply of water in the mains from 15th March to 18th April during which period sea water was used· as much as possible in order to save the dresh water. Two occurred in the harbour during the
your.
There was one prosecution for arson in connection with the fire at No. 147 Wing Lok Street. Four men were arrested and charged for trial. and committed
The Attorney General did not proceed with the case. The conduct of the Brigade has been good.
against one in 1905, 193 for absence from
Mr. D. Macdonald, engineer of the Brigade, station and late for daty as against 147 in the previous year. Three seamen were convicted reports that the floating fire engine was sunk by the Polic Magistrate, one for giving false during the typhoon on 19th September, 1936, testimony, one for bribery and ode for near the western entrance to Causeway Bay. larceny. One Indian sergeant and one Indian On being raised the ball of the lunch wa constable were granted rewards for smart cap. found to be so badly damaged that it was decided ture of three murderers, ove Indian sergeant to build a new bull. The pamps, prspelling was granted a good conduct medal for plucky sagine, and boiler, which suffered slight damage, conduct in securing the arrest of one wanted have now been thoroughly overhauled and for stabbing, and two Chinese detectives were repaired, and await the completion of the mare granted good conduct medals for "meritorions | hall. The land engine by Shand and Mason services.
Police were A large number of
has besu 23 years in servios (Béiler nias years commended by his Excellency the Governor old). It has been regularly used and tested at for good work performed daring sad in con. monthly drill for drivers and fires, was overe The Assistant Superintendent, Mr. E. R. working order.
• ection with the typhoon of the 18th September. hauled during the year, and is now in good, A second hand engine by: Shand and Mason has been 21 years in service Hallifax, who was seconded to the Transvas! Gorerament, returned on 3rd April and Boiler retubed in May 1904). It a went on leave on 21st April. Mr. G. N. regularly used and tested at monthly drill, Orme acted during his absence. Seventeen for drivers, overhauled at regular intervala Europeans were engaged during the year, 10 during the year, and is now in good working were recruited in England and seven enlisted order. A third Land Engine by Shand find
Mason has been 25 years in locally,
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