Twentieth century impressions of Hong-kong, Shanghai, and other Treaty Ports of China (1908): View pages

pg.266 POLICE, PRISONS, AND FIRE BRIGADE.

POLICE, PRISONS, AND FIRE BRIGADE.

By Captain F. W. Lyons, Acting Captain-Superintendent of Police, Hongkong.

The earliest allusion to the Hongkong police is to be found in Mr. Tarrant's "Early History of Hongkong." and relates to an incident which occurred in December, 1842, when a Mr. Fearon having hoisted a flag on a marine lot to which claim was also laid by the Admiral on behalf of the Government. "The Land Officer went to the place with some policemen and hauled the flag down." The next reference (in the same year) is to the European police suffering much from malarial fever, which was attributed to their night duty, as they always reported themselves sick in the morning. There were at that time nearly thirty European constables, and their efforts were supplemented by those of watchmen, employed by European householders and by the leading commercial houses. One firm, that of Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co., employed twelve of these watchmen at a cost of £60 a month. The watchmen signified their alertness by beating bamboo drums, but as this was not conducive to peace and quietness at night the practice was put a stop to by an ordinance. The result of this prohibition, however, was said to be an increase in crime. Armed burglars made several entries into the houses of merchants during 1843, and even Government House was invaded, whilst piracies and daylight robberies were of frequent occurrence. A slight check was imposed on the marauders by an enactment that all Chinese abroad after dark should carry lanterns.

In 1844 Captain Haly, of the Madras Native Infantry, was appointed Superintendent of Police, evidently in addition to his military command, for it is recorded that when he was required with his regiment. Captain Bruce, of the Royal Irish Regiment, acted for him in the civil capacity. In the same year it was decided that a properly constituted police force .should be organised. On July 3rd the Colonial Secretary issued a circular to the principal merchants on the subject, inviting their suggestions, and pointing out that the chief difficulty was to find a class of men suitable for street work, as the exposure proved fatal to the British. The result was the appointment of Mr. C. May, an inspecior of K Division of the Metropolitan Police, to the command of the force, at a salary of £500 a year, with two serjeants at £250 a year each. Instructions were given that the force should be raised from the military and marines in China, that good pay should be offered, and that any man who misconducted himself should be sent back to the ranks of any regiment in Hongkong. Accordingly a force of 78 Europeans, 34 Indians, and 48 Chinese was formed upon the model of the Royal Irish Constabulary and dressed in uniforms of rifle-green, which led to their being dubbed "the greencoats" by the Chinese. Whether these numbers included the harbour police is not apparent ; presumably they did not, for the latter were placed under the Chinese Revenue Service, in accordance with a clause in a Treaty. Crime, however, showed no appreciable abatement, for the reason, as stated by Dr. Eitel in his "Europe in China," that "Sir J. Davis found himself handicapped in his efforts to suppress crime (like every successive Governor of Hongkong) by the constant influx of criminals from the mainland." In another passage the rev. gentleman observes: "The failure of the police to prevent crime was unavoidable, as the extraordinary activity of Chinese criminals was the natural corollary of the Taiping and Triad Rebellions, and as the police force was deficient in numerical strength from financial considerations."

Sir J. Bonham organised a detective department in 1848, and placed in charge of it Mr. D. R. Caldwell, as assistant superintendent; but the police force itself had been seriously reduced in numbers—whether as a result of economy or from casualties is not clear. It comprised only 134 men, and contained 48 Europeans less than in 1844, while the whole personnel of the force was unsuitable. The Europeans had no previous police experience, and left discipline behind when they left their regiments; the Indians from Bombay and Madras were not of the proper stamp; and the Chinese, taken from among the lowest classes, were underpaid. Some advance was made in 1850 and in the next three years, for during that period less serious crime was committed. With the completion of the Central and West Point Police Stations in 1857 still more progress was made, and in the following year the Governor, Sir J. Bowring, expressed the opinion that the appearance, discipline, and general efficiency of the force had greatly improved. In 1859 a station was built at Stanley, and in the following year another was opened at Shaukiwan, Two others were built in 1862.

Hitherto the Indian constables had been obtained from the native regiments, but in 1861 or 1862 the Superintendent. Captain W. Quin, who had served in the Army and in the Bombay police, resolved to try Bombay and Madras as recruiting grounds. By 1865 the strength of the Hongkong force had been raised to 610, including 76 Europeans, 369 Indians, and 165 Chinese. The Administrator, the Hon. Mr. W. T. Mercer, reported that the Indian contingent had proved a failure, but this was denied by the Superintendent, who pleaded that they had not been given a fair trial, and at the same time condemned the proposal to employ Chinese police. In 1867, Sir R. MacDonnell assured the Secretary of State that he had not seen in any colony a body of men so ineffective. In 1869 district watchmen were employed, and although, as a consequence, an unfortunate friction resulted between the Captain-Superintendent and the Registrar-General, the men were found to be very useful, and to this day district watchmen are employed as auxiliaries. In the meantime the Indians in the police force were replaced by men from the Punjaub ((sic.)), and a police school was established. Public dissatisfaction with the police eventually resulted in the appointment of a Commission of Inquiry, which sat in 1872, and recommended the payment of higher wages, the formation of a detective staff, and the provision of facilities for Europeans and Indians to learn Chinese.

In 1873 the office of Assistant Superintendent was abolished, and replaced by that of Chief Inspector, and a station was built at Yaumati. The growing efficiency of the Chinese constables was noticed at this time, and they were given credit by the Captain-Superintendent for arrests that could not have been achieved by Europeans or Indians. Their latent possibilities were again shown in 1886, when £1,000 in gold coins was recovered by the smartness and perseverance of a Chinese detective. In 1877 and 1878 there was again a marked increase in crime, and life and property were

insecure. The Superintendent attributed the increase to famine and floods in China, and to the high price of rice in Hongkong, whilst at a public meeting held on the cricket ground in 1878 the increase was ascribed to undue leniency towards the criminal classes, the suspension of public flogging, and the reduction in the numbers of persons deported. In the same year the Superintendent of Police and several of his men were wounded by armed burglars, and. later, a body of robbers took possession of Wing Lok Street. In 1879 there was an attack on Hunghom.

<Photos: THE BARRACKS. THE KOWLOON WATER POLICE>

The erection of a water police station was begun in 1879. and steam launches were obtained for harbour work. The station, opened in 1884. occupied an advantageous site at Tsim-tsa-tsui, which in the old days had been the scene of battles between the Puntis and Hakkas, and from which promontory the Chinese batteries had, in 1839, opened fire on merchant ships in Hongkong harbour, obliging them to leave—an outrage magnified by the Chinese chroniclers into a great victory. New stations were built, also, at Aberdeen, Tsat Tze Mui, and Kennedy Town in 1891. Major-General Gordon succeeded Mr. Deane as Captain-Superintendent, and was followed in 1893 by Mr. F. H. May, now Colonial Secretary. The year 1895 saw added to the Captain-Superintendent's responsibilities the control of the Fire Brigade and the Gaol, which, for reasons of economy, were made sub-departments of the police department Towards the end of the year the regulation requiring the Chinese to carry a light at night was again put into force, and resulted in a great diminution in nocturnal crime. The total population of the Colony had by this time increased to 248,498, while the police force numbered 627. A gaming scandal in 1897 led to a searching investigation by the Captain-Superintendent ; one European inspector was convicted and sentenced to six months' hard labour, while others and some European Serjeants, together with 19 Indian and 26 Chinese police, were dismissed for taking bribes. In the following year, too, 27 Indian police were sent to gaol for a week for insubordination ; but the cloud was not without its silver lining, for two European and seven Chinese members of the force were rewarded by the Governor for courage, promptness, and intelligence; two Indians for rescues from drowning ; two Indians for arresting burglars ; and three Chinese watchmen for activity and intelligence. The acquisition of the New Territory in March, 1899, extended the scope of police work very considerably, and necessitated the enrolment of two N.C.O.'s and 22 men of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers as special constables for duty in the newly acquired area pending the enlistment of additional police. New stations were built at Taipo, Autau, and Pingshan. Crime increased, partly owing to the disturbed condition of the neighbouring provinces, and partly to the activity of secret societies. Gang robberies were frequent, some 18 occurring on the island and some 25 in the New Territory.

Two new stations were established on the mainland in 1900, at Sai Kung and Sha Tau Kok, and one on the island at Kennedy Town ; the force was re-armed with .303 Martini-Enlield carbines, and three Maxim guns, now on board the petrol launches, were added. A second Assistant Superintendent of Police was appointed in 1901. On the promotion of Mr. F. H. May, C.M.G., to tlie office of Colonial Secretary, in 1902, Mr. F. J. Badeley was made Captain-Superintendent, and Captain F. W. Lyons, late of the Perak police. Federated Malay States, was appointed Deputy Superintendent. The typhoon of September, 1906, played great havoc with the police launches and firefloat, and demolished the police station at Sam Shui Po. Fortunately there was no loss of life amongst the police and crews, though there were some very narrow escapes. The members of the force—Europeans, Indian and Chinese —were commended by His Excellency Sir Matthew Nathan, who said, " Many hundreds of Chinese lives were saved by the police in the island, in Kowloon, and in the New Territories during and immediately after the storm,"

The total strength of the police force on December 31, 1907, was 1,041 men, namely, 128 Europeans, 410 Indians, and 503 Chinese. The total expenditure on the force for the twelve months was $520,170.

CRIME.

During 1907, 11,540 cases were reported to the police, an increase of 3.55 per cent. over the total for the preceding twelve months. Of this number 3,306 related to serious offences, a decrease of 0.81 per cent. ; and out of 2,036 persons arrested, 1,592 were convicted. Fourteen murders were reported—a greater number than in any year during the past decade—and in connection with them 24 persons were arrested and 16 convicted. There were 6 gang robberies, 3 of which took place in the New Territory, and in 3 cases no arrest was made. The police failed, also, to make arrests in 15 out of 24 cases of street and highway robbery. Reports were received of the commission of 18,234 minor offences, and 10,506 arrests, resulting in 9,991 convictions, were effected. One hundred and forty-seven gambling warrants were executed, and in each case a conviction followed. No fewer than 2,781 search warrants for prepared opium were executed by the police and excise officers of the opium farmer, and in 787 cases opium was found, and 1,057 persons were apprehended. By the fingerprint system 185 recidivists were identitied. One hundred and eighty-three beggars were deported to Canton, 31 were dealt with bv the police magistrate, and 3 were sent to the Tung Wah Hospital.

The estimated value of the property reported as stolen during the year was $141,354, and of that recovered by the police, $18,787.

<Photo: DETACHMENT OF INDIAN POLICE.>

THE FIRE BRIGADE.

Allowing that the probability of an extensive fire in the more elevated residential areas of the Colony is comparatively remote, it may safely be affirmed that Hongkong is now adequately insured against the recurrence of such serious conflagrations as those of 1851, 1867, 1878, and 1904. In 1851 a large area north of Queen's Road was destroyed, 30 lives were lost, and 472 Chinese families were rendered homeless. This turned public attention to the question of fire-extinguishing appliances, but it was not until 1856 that volunteer European and Chinese fire brigades were formed. The brigades even then were but ill-equipped, and this, no doubt, explains why in the outbreak which occurred towards the latter end of November, 1867, 500 houses were demolished before the fire could be got under control. An ordinance was passed in the following year establishing a volunteer fire brigade, under a superintendent, in which both police and civilians were enrolled. In 1878 occurred a terrible outbreak, involving the destruction of 368 houses in the centre of the town, which demonstrated, in the opinion of the community, the absence of all system in the management of the Fire Brigade. The fire began on Christmas Day and raged for about forty-eight hours, damaging over a million dollars' worth of property. Extensive, but less serious fires, broke out in 1881 at Taipingshan, where 36 houses were burned, and in 1884 at Hunghom, where two outbreaks occurred in one week. Of recent years the fires of 1902 involved losses aggregating over $2,145,000, one conflagration alone, in which 47 houses were destroyed, being responsible for nearly half this sum. The fire at the Kowloon godowns in 1904 wrought damage estimated at hundreds of thousands of dollars, whilst in the burning of the river steamer Hankow over one hundred lives were lost. These severe lessons have not been disregarded. In 1895 the Fire Brigade was made a sub-department of the police department, and slowly but surely its efficiency has since been raised. Towards its maintenance a rate of 3/4 per cent, is levied on certain parts of the Colony. The force comprises Europeans selected from the police, and permanent Chinese firemen. The police-firemen, who receive a retaining fee in consideration of their services, are required to attend monthly courses of instruction in general work and an annual re-qualifying course. Those of the men who display special aptitude are further trained in handling the steamers and the floating fire-engine, in order that there shall be no lack of engineers and engineer-drivers. The permanent Chinese firemen, who are quartered at the various stations, are trained in the ordinary brigade exercises and as mechanics. Under normal circumstances the brigade could muster about 20 Europeans and 26 Chinese to a fire, without distressing the police force. The Captain-Superintendent of Police, Mr. Francis Joseph Badeley, is ex officio Superintendent of the Fire Brigade, other police ofticers carrying out these duties of deputv superintendent and assistant superintendent respectively. The engineer is Mr. D. Macdonald, of Messrs. Macdonald & Co. The practical work of the brigade is under the charge of an assistant engineer and station officer. a post to which Mr. A. Lane. formerly of the London Fire Brigade, was appointed in March. 1904.

<Photo: HONGKONG FIRE BRIGADE. >

The headquarters of the brigade are at the Central Fire Station in Queen's Road, to which are attached the sub-stations at the Clock Tower and at Nam-pak-hong. It is equipped with two steamers, extension ladders, and dispatch boxes, which latter combine hose reels with cases of first-aid appliances. Street lire-alarms are distributed through the commercial parts of the city, and the station is also in communication with the telephone exchange, which ensures the speedy receipt of intelligence as to the whereabouts of any outbreak which may occur. In addition, there is a lire station at every police station, equipped in two cases with a steamer, and in others with hydrant appliances ; whilst a self-propelling floating station is always in readiness for use in the harbour, or as an auxiliary to the land steamers. The fire-float was sunk in the typhoon of September, 1906, but was raised, and was available for use by September of the following year. The estimates for 1908 provide for another fire-Hoat at a cost of $50,000, and this will give increased safety to shipping and to the buildings on the sea-front. As to the water supply, there are altogether 700 hydrants in the three districts—the Peak, Victoria, and Kowloon. The freshwater supply is supplemented, as far as the range will permit, by sea water pumped from the floating station into portable dams or tanks, and from thence by the steamers to the scene of operations. The steamers and other appliances are drawn wherever they are needed by coolies, who are paid by time. At the Central Fire Station there are workshops with a complement of carpenters, fitters, sail-makers, and blacksmiths, able to execute repairs of all kinds with the exception of heavy engineering work. During the year 1907 there were 39 fires and 77 incipient fires, which together did damage to the extent of $216,267, and the brigade was called out 56 times.

THE PRISON.

A small granite prison, built in 1841, was the second permanent building erected on the island ; but, though small, the gaol was never full, for all minor offences committed by Chinese were punished by " bambooing." The average number of prisoners was about 60. The prison for Europeans was 64 feet by 30 feet, divided into two rows of cells, twelve in number. There were two blocks for Chinese, a portion of one of these being used for prisoners awaiting trial. The Chief Magistrate, at that time Captain Caine, was also Superintendent of the Gaol. The sentences were not for long terms of imprisonment, one record showing two for four years, two for three years, four for two and a half years, twenty-three for two years, twenty-four for one year and a half, two for a year, and the remainder for shorter terms, A small yard, 7X feet by 30 feet, was provided for exercise. The prisoners, who enjoyed far better health on the average than the civil and military comunities, were chiefly employed in roadmaking, their hours of work being from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. An hour was allowed for breakfast and for the midday meal ; the purveyor receiving one dollar and a half per man per mensem for food. Public floggings were of frequent occurrence, one hundred lashes often being administered, but, in spite of these, the prison had its attractions for the half-starved loafers from Canton. In those early days another punishment of the Chinese consisted in cutting off the queue, but. as it was found that discharged prisoners contrived to splice new ones on directly they were released, they were ordered to be shaved, so that they might bear the mark of incarceration for a longer time. In 1862, in order to relieve the congestion of the Victoria Gaol, 280 long-sentence prisoners were placed on a hulk anchored off Stonecutter's Island, to assist in building a prison on that island. The experiment was anything but successful. Thirty-eight prisoners were drowned by an accident. There were frequent attempts at rescue on the part of friends of the prisoners, and, as several of the convicts escaped from the hulk, and by means of the drains, from Victoria Gaol, an inquiry into the management of these establishments was held. As

<Photo: VICTORIA GAOL GROUP.>

a result, an expert was appointed, but lie does not seem to have been a suitable superintendent, for he did not remain long;. In 1864 a hundred prisoners escaped in junks, after disabling their guards. The Stonecutters Gaol was finished in that year. Mr. F. Douglas succeeded the "expert," and the gaol became known as the " Douglas Hotel." In the working of the establishment matters improved considerably under a rigorous system of discipline, reduced diet, severe labour, and the substitution of the " cat " for the rattan. The Victoria Gaol having been reconstructed in 1865, that on Stonecutter's Island was abandoned in 1870 for financial considerations. One of the most effective measures taken against crime was that of publicly branding and deporting prisoners, with their consent, and on the condition that they were to be flogged and sent back to serve their original sentences if they returned. Twice this system was discontinued, and twice it was re-introduced owing to the serious increase in all classes of crime during its suspension ; and its final abolition in 1880 was only made possible by the fact that its operation had practically rid the island of that class of the population whose room was more to be desired than their company. The number of prisoners in 1871 was 556; in 1872, 596; and in 1874, 398. Mr. Douglas died in the latter year, and was succeeded as superintendent by Mr. Tonnochy, who was followed bv Mr. Tomlin in 1875.

The Victoria Gaol has been considerablv enlarged since its reconstruction in 1865. three up-to-date halls having been added during the past few years. These halls are capable of accommodating 231 prisoners, whilst the old structure contains 283 cells, 35 of which form the female prison. The prison is conducted entirely on the separate system. Indoor labour convicts are employed in the manufacture of coir matting, mats, brooms, clothing, boots, shoes, cabinet-making, printing, book-binding, string-making, &c., but short-sentence prisoners are given unproductive work to perform, such as crank labour, stone-carrymg, and shot drill. There are three large yards for exercise. There is a branch prison at Causeway Bay, where prisoners pronounced unfit for hard labour are confined in association when there is insufficient accommodation for them in Victoria Gaol.

Mr. R. H. A. Craig, the assistant superintendent in charge of the gaol, was appointed in 1894, after fifteen years' service in the Home Convict Department. He is at present on leave, and Mr. C. A. D. Melbourne is acting for him.

THE CAPTAIN-SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE.—A biographical sketch of Mr. F. J. Badeley, the Captain-Superintendent of Police, will be found under the heading " Executive and Legislative Councils.";

CAPTAIN F. W. LYONS, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Hongkong, was born on December 26, 1855, and was educated at Portarlington and at Trinity College, Dublin. He entered the Army as a second lieutenant in 1878, and served in the Zulu War in South Africa from 1878 to 1880, being present at the capture of Sekukuni's stronghold, and receiving a medal and clasp. In 1884 he was promoted captain, and in the following year proceeded to the Soudan, where he served through the Egyptian Campaign, receiving the medal and the Khedive's Star. In 1885 he was appointed adjutant, and from 1887 to 1890 was adjutant of the 2nd Vol. Batt. Royal Highlanders. Upon retiring in 1890 he was appointed captain in the Reserve of Officers. In 1891 he entered the Police Force of the Straits Settlements as Assistant Superintendent, and two years later became Assistant Commissioner of the Perak Sikhs. From 1893 to 1895 he acted as Captain-Superintendent of Police and Prisons, Selangor, and he served during the disturbances in Pahang in 1894. He was present at the attack upon, and capture of, the rebels' stockades at Jeram Ampai, and was struck by a bullet, which, however, glanced off a pocket-book, inflicting only a severe bruise. For his services in Pahang he received the thanks of the Secretary of State for the Colonies. He acted as Chief Police Officer of Perak from iqoo to 1902, when he was appointed Deputy Superintendent of Police, Hongkong. On two occasions — 1903-4 and 1907-8— he has acted as Captain-Superintendent of Police for the Colony. Captain Lyons is connected by marriage with two colonies, his wife being a daughter of Mr. G. O. Matherson, of "Rosedale," Pietermaritzburg, who was one of the first commanding officers of Volunteers in Natal ; while his sister is married to the Inspector-General of Police, Straits Settlements. He is a member of the Army and Navy (Pall Mall) and Hongkong Clubs, is a steward of the Hongkong Jockey Club, and resides at the Central Police Station, Hongkong.

MR. PHILIP PEVERIL JOHN WODEHOUSE, Assistant Superintendent of Police, was born in September, 1877, and was educated at Elizabeth College, Guernsey. His father, the Hon. Mr. H. E. Wodehouse, C.M.G., was for about thirty years in the service of the Colony, and for a considerable time prior to retiring on pension was Chief Police Magistrate. He was a member of the Executive and Legislative Councils, and was decorated for services in connection with the Colonial Exhibition in 1887, when he went to England in charge of the Hongkong and South China exhibits. Mr. P. P. J. Wodehouse entered the Civil Service on leaving school in 1897. After spending a year or two in the Registrar-General's Office, he was appointed Assistant Superintendent of Police, and was sent to India, attached to the Punjab police, to pass in Hindu, having already qualified in Cantonese. Mr. Wodehouse has twice been in charge of the general census of the Colony, and during the past three years has been associated with Mr. Badeley in the development of the finger-print system for the identification of habitual criminals. In this connection he went through a course at Scotland Yard, Henry's system being the one in use there. Hockey, tennis, and swimming are the chief recreations of his leisure. He is a member of the Grosvenor Club, Piccadilly.

((The scanned copy of these pages can be viewed online at: https://archive.org/stream/twentiethcentury00wriguoft#page/266/mode/1up))

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Twentieth century impressions of Hong-kong, Shanghai, and other Treaty Ports of China (1908): View pages