Dec. 30.
The sad manner in which conditions have deteriorated in the western district within the perimeter was amply indicated by the hold-up of a number of foreigners on Columbia Rond on Wednesday night. As has already been pointed out this is by far the boldest crime which has been perpetrate ed in this area for a very long time past, is clear proof of the lengths to which these gangs will go in their criminal pursuits and that the existence of these people in. that area constitutes a definite menace to the safety of the law-abiding residents, From inquiries it appears that the bad characters who used formerly to operate in Chapel and Nantao have now gathered in the Western district. Many are attached to the armed guards of the gambling dens, taking. time Off occasionally to perpetrate an odd crime for so, Others have merely organized themselves into gangs, and are responsible for all sorts of robberies which are of daily currence. While it is true that the Munieipal Police have jurisdiction over the outside roads running through the area, they cannot exercise any authority off them. That was formerly the work of the Bureau of Public Safety, which before the outbreak of hostilities carried out their duties in a comparatively efficient manner. They. were armed and properly fitted to deal with the criminal, Their functions have since been taken over by the Ta Tao police, a body of men, carrying batons, who do not operate after dark. If they did, being without weapons they would be useless against the armed desperado, and the fact of the matter that the large area between the Settlement boundary and the perimeter, except for the strieily limited activities' of the Municipal Police, is left completely uns protected, Indeed it is no great exaggeration to state that the area on the other side of the railway, despite the guerillas, is probably better so far as crime is concerned than the district closer to the Settlement That no fewer than seven foreigners were held up and robbed is sufficient proof not only of the existence of these gangs, but of their audacity, for it is the biggest' robbery of its type that has been committed for very many years past. Its significance arises from the fact that in that district there is a very large number of foreign residents who in the prevailing cireumstances can only be alfurded a limited amount of protection, for while the qungster can commit his crime on a municipal road, a very few steps indeed takes him out Of the jurisdiction of the foreign police, and gives him a form of security which should be terminated at the shortest pos-Let there be no mistake about the responsibility for this crime lies fairly at the door of the Ta Tae Govern ment and gives rise to the question as to how much real authority that new constituted body really does possess. If it has any at all, the devising of proper methods for the maintenance of the peace in this area should present no formidable difficulties, but, of course, if it has none, then sunil be expected until drastic steps ure taken by someone or other fo put a stop to it, It may be argued that the Ta Tao government being of very recent establishment cannot be expected to the necessary a which have passed under its control, but,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.