ENG-1954 — Page 204

LAW AND ORDER

Details of the work in the Magistracies can be seen

in the following table :---

Total number of charges

Hong Kong

Kowloon Total

69,026 55,607 124,633

Prosecutions

against

adults

and juveniles

106,044

170,533 276,577

Convictions against

adults

and juveniles

84,017

93,095 177,112

Prosecutions against juveniles

only

17,368

38,258 55,626

Convictions against juveniles

only

16,614

23,086 39,700

Summonses issued

17,895

23,279 41,174

Tenancy Tribunals

During the year under review, there was a sharp rise in the number of applications as compared with previous years. In 1951, 659 cases were filed and in 1952 there were 1,466. In 1953, there was an increase to 2,098, while in 1954 the number reached the formid- able total of 5,263. It appears that the majority of the cases are now brought to determine or reduce rentals, and there is no doubt that the amendments effected to the Landlord and Tenant Ordinance in 1953, and the publicity given to them through various channels, has resulted in a much larger proportion of the population becoming aware, and ready to avail itself, of its rights with reference to controlled rents. Despite the fact that the tribunals sat daily hearing these applications, many were left undetermined by the end of the year.

Police

The aftermath of the Shek Kip Mei fire at the end of 1953, followed by the Kowloon Tsai and other lesser fires in the densely populated squatter areas during

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