Queen honours Hongkong's police forces
lokina Mumin58,
Post 18 April 1964
The Hongkong Police Force and the Auxiliary Police have been given the title "Royal" by Her Majesty the Queen.
Mr Harold Wilson, the Prime Minister, announced the Queen's approval of this honour in the House of Commons last night.
Further, Her Royal dant Highness, Princess Alex-
of the Hongkong It has carried out these Auxiliary Police, sent andra, has agreed to ac-following message
the duties through the two to the World Wars and the civil cept, in an honorary Secretary of State for con- disturbances, capacity, the appointment of veying to the Queen and' aim remains unchanged.
and its basic Commandant-General of the Princess Alexandra: two forces.
an-
the Police
The title of the reserve Commenting on the
"We are deeply conscious was changed in 1959 with the nouncement, Mr E. C. Eates, of the signal honour that has forming of Auxiliary Police the Commissioner of Police,
been conferred upon the with a strength of 2,000 men. said: "It is a very great hon- Hongkong Police Force and
Since then it has expanded our to have this distinction
Hongkong Auxiliary to its present strength of conferred upon the force.
by Her Majesty's about 3,200. "Everyone in the force gracious act in according to proud and I would like and by the acceptance by her
both forces the title Royal' Wilson's announcement came
A Reuter report said
Royal Highness
reply to Princess
Lieut-Cmdr Alexandra of the appointment tive MP, who said Princess Lynch Maydon, a Conserva- in an honorary capacity of Commandant-General of both would give pleasure to Hong- Alexandra's appointment
Mr E. C. Eates
is
to
forces.
in
Mr
"On behalf of the officers British and Chinese stock.
kong's loyal subjects both of and men of both forces we respectfully tender to Her Majesty and Her Royal High- ness an expression of our
Laughter
Commander Maydon said a
humble duty and our most the only other
grateful thanks for marks of distinction
case of a fi
these police force being which honoured was that of
will be for both forces a Royal
similarly a
the y Mounted Canadian
Bursts of
Canadian
source of great encourage- Police, the famed ment and pride to all ranks." "Mounties."
Long history
The only large police force outside Britain
similarly honoured is the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
The Hongkong Police Force was formed over 120 years ago with 11 European and 21 Chinese policemen.
laughter and shouts of "Royal Ulster Constabulary" and "Royal Ulster Gestapo" came from the Government back benches.
៨៩៧៨
W!
ar
with
hi
W
e
Mr Wilson joined Commander Maydon in wel- great spirit, vigour and cour- coming the tribute to the age the Hongkong force had à ties of recent years. shown in the severe difficul-
anomalous
to confer
Altogether 132 officers of the Hongkong Police Force think that the community as during the two World Wars.
died action or in prin sohn Re, said it seemed of A Labour backbencher, Mr ce a whole will share our feel-
In 1914 many policemen ings, because their support served in the Armed Forces Royal title on the forces of a the o has been a vital factor in and in the last war the police for everything British people
a State which, he said, stood of establishing our reputation force became a militia in the as an efficient law enforce- defence of the Colony. ment body.
"There are always chal- all ranks have died in
Since 1946, 76 officers lenges for a police force to course of duty. meet
some chronic and
of the
rejected. He claimed there was no popular representation in Hongkong.
Mr Wilson said he would accept this. He said was a colonial
others arising from time to activities have widened with Hongkong
During the years police not time. But I am these will be overcome, and minal Investigation Depart- tinuous
confident the introduction of the Cri- territory living under con- not only
pressure
that we shall dignity the honour which has Special Branch,
uphold with ment, Anti-Narcotics Branch, from the Communist Chinese been bestowed upon us."
Traffic and but from "some extremely Training Branches. Women strange gentlemen" from Tai-
Mr Eates and Col the Hon police first joined the force wan, who added to the un- J. D. Clague, the Comman- in 1951.
settlement and insecurity.
RECEIVED IN
TRY NO.51
MAT 1969
HKK 14/8
a
Today the police have strength of 11,194 officers and men and incorporate all the specialist branches associated with a modern police force.
The foundation for Hongkong Auxiliary Force
the Police
was laid with the formation of the Police
Supist da fegube police ma nelltaining law and order and probusily là ånd pro
"It is in this situation of double-threat and double- provocation that think the Hongkong Police forces have discharged their duties with singular integrity," the Prime Minister said.