But the Commission would point out in the strongest manner their entire disbelief in men being able to serve for ten years consecutively without breaking down, physically or morally, and without ultimately becoming of great cost to the Colony. Instances may occur to the contrary, but they must be treated as exceptions.
Up to this time but two men, Inspectors, have succeeded in obtaining Pensions, one a Portuguese, grossly illiterate, and the other an Irishman, whose case has Further, called for this enquiry, and upon which it is not necessary to comment. but four Officers are on the roster who have served over five years, and are on the road leading to a pension. Experience, therefore, proves clearly the rarity of men serving ten years consecutively in the Colonial Police.
The provisions, however, in the case of those who may be disabled by wounds or injuries received in the actual exceution of duty should remain as heretofore.
It is only necessary, in conclusion, to remark that the Indians and Chinese in the Force should be dealt with in a different manner to the Europeans. They should be entitled to pensions, ou a reduced scale, after the same length of service as the Europeans, but without privilege of leave of absence, that is to say, except for such short periods as the exigencies of the service would allow. The Commission would, however, recommend that they should be eligible for gratuities in the event of their leaving the service any time after five years, but still the Governor in Council should have the power of withholding or granting such gratuitics and pensions, each case being considered on its own merits.
Such are the suggestions which the Commission would offer for placing on a more satisfactory footing the regulations relating to retiring pensions for the Police.
CECIL C. SMITH, Actinig Colonal Secretary,
E. W. GOODLAKE, Police Magistrate.
F. W. MITCHELL, Postmaster General.
W. M. DEANE, Acting Superintendent of Police.
Hongkong, 17th March, 1868.
}
101
愈