Shanghai in 1918

There was a main riot of Shanghai Municipal Police in Shanghai Hongkou district in 1918 between the local Chinese police contingent and Japanese contingent, which was triggered by Japanese contingent’s desire to recruit more Japanese police into Shanghai Municipal Police. The tension between two branches finally result into an armed riot in a farm market in 1918, in which a Japanese police was shot dead and many people wounded.

Shanghai Municipal Police is the pioneer in the field of police work in early modern China. It was charged by the Shanghai Municipal Council, which governed the Shanghai International Settlement. The Shanghai International Settlement was established after the defeat of Qing army by the British in the First Opium War during 1839-1842. As the terms of the Treaty of Nanking rule, foreign confessions were set in China for the business interests of British, French and American businessmen. The Shanghai International Settlement were created in 1863 by British and American settlements. Their nationals also consisted the administration of the settlement. The tensions between the Chinese and foreign branches spread from citizens to administrations.

International police in Shanghai International Settlement.