I have been
(Signed) Henry Pottinger.
Minute.
24
Victoria, 26 January 1854
I submit a letter addressed to me by the Honourable Major General D'Aguilar proposing to allow such men of Her Majesty's 55 Regiment to be selected as Police for this Colony as shall be required, after those men shall be specially reported by their immediate Commanding Officer for good conduct, and approved by a Medical Committee.
It is needless for me to take up more time by pointing out to my Colleagues in Council, that an efficient European Police is not only desirable but absolutely indispensable to the welfare and good order of this Colony.
I shall as soon as possible bring forward a Plan for registering all the Chinese Inhabitants of the Colony, and establishing a system of mutual responsibility, and security which I confidently trust will tend to the diminution of crime, and the safety of the lives and properties of all classes. But I am not the less satisfied, we must have an efficient body of European Police, and therefore I propose that the Major General's offer shall be accepted with thanks, and that the Chief Magistrate, assisted by the Legal Adviser to Government, the Marine Magistrate, and the Assistant to the Chief Magistrate, shall be requested to form and submit a Plan for Police, showing their numbers, organization, stations and employment.