during the year 1960-61. Figures of applicants for the last four years
were:
1958-59
12,719
1959-60 12,025
1960-61 8,151
1961-62
4,496
The reduced numbers of persons now applying would still be sufficient to meet the needs of the Force if the majority of the candidates were of the required educational and physical standard. Unfortunately very few applicants are of this standard and of the number who applied during the year only 116 were successful; another 78 applications were still under consideration at the year's end. 98 recruits who had made application during the previous year were also accepted.
7. Apart from recruiting difficulties the manpower situation is exacer- bated by resignations. The services of 252 Rank and File officers were lost by resignation during the year. This figure is considerably higher than the number of resignations in the previous two years, which were 77 and 46. The majority of the officers who resigned had less than five years' service in the Force, were single and able to find employment elsewhere with better or equal wages and without the disadvantages of strict discipline, night duty and the many responsibilities imposed on a Constable. A number of Police officers also resigned to go to the United Kingdom to work in the increasing number of Chinese Restaurants there. Although these resignations are indicative of the Colony's prosperity the consequences of their continuing would be very serious for the Force and the community.
8. There was a total wastage of 369 Rank and File officers during the year. 355 recruit Constables, of whom 23 were women, completed their training and passed out from the Training School. The Force was at the end of the year 855 Rank and File officers under establishment.
ROYAL VISIT
9. The most important event of the year was the visit of Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra of Kent. During the Royal Visit which lasted from 3rd to 14th November 1961 every available member of the Regular Force and most of the Police Auxiliaries were engaged in the control of traffic and crowds, the planning of routes and the other duties which the presence of such a distinguished visitor made necessary. Large crowds of spectators appeared daily and the success of the Police arrange- ments resulted in no small measure from the generally excellent behaviour and co-operation of these spectators. Credit must also be
3