The searching and examination lof passengers embarking on vessels Jabout to leave the colony is a proper function of the police. The police searchers however are inadequate. (The number of eases of ships which have been pirated by passengers who jombarked with their arms is well known. Coastal and river steamers.
Jare frequently in Hongkong for 12. hours at a time and during the: whole of this time cargo and baggage is being discharged and loaded. The ship's officers cannot. possibly be expected to search the people who are constantly coming. and going yet the police only [come on duty on the various wharves seme two to three hours before the ship is due to sail. It is submitted that an adequate number of police should be on duty on the wharves ithe whole time, also that the Water police should be strengthened and provided with additional suitable harbour craft to be used in supervising and examining passengers embarking on vessels in the stream. At present police supervision and jcxamination of such passengers hopelessly inadequate. © This doubt-Tess will entail a considerable increase in the strength of the poli force and consequently increased oxpense. It is submitted however that.
Iorcrament to. protect life and pre as much the duty of the perty on board ship by taking precautionary measures whilst ships are in port as it is to. protect life Jand property ashore, Whampoa to Canton Owing to the silting up of the Tat Mei Barrier a number. of vessels have to be lightened at Whampoa and the cargo so taken out hag to ba, jearried from thence to Canton in native craft.
The greatest difficulties are being Jexperienced in inducing the owners lof native craft to carry such cargoes lowing to their fear of pirates.
The regulations of course cannot Japply*to such craft and the only defence that can be afforded to auch leraft must be supplied by patrols.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.