271
4
7. The total cost of the Police during the period from 1867 to 1881, both years inclusive, has been
Pensions,
Superannuation allowances,
Bonus and gratuities,
.$ 32,473.00
16,600.00
55,820.00
23,410.00
$ 128,303.00 2,015,445.00
5
The Police School, Stokers, and Working Expenses of Steam-Launches, and a large increase in the amount of Pensions, will satisfactorily account for the increase in the Estimates for 1883, which does not seem to me unreasonable, considering at the same time the increase in population, and especially in the value of house property. The Police rates for the several years have been estimated at 7 per cent., at the following
Return passages,
Establishments,
Services exclusive of Establishments including pas-
sages from England and India,
or an average
races.
The
of.
average
538,373.00
$2,682,121.00
...$ 178,808.00 per ann.
annual strength of the Force during that period having been 612, the total cost may be set down therefore at $292 per head annually, including all ranks and At this rate the Estimate for 618 of all ranks for 1883 should be only $180,456 instead of $190,478 + 9,000 for pensions. With the view of showing how the increase for 1883 is accounted for, I have had the annexed statement prepared, exhibiting the An examination of this statement will Estimates for the years 1872, 1878 and 1883.
show that the estimated cost per head of the salaries of the staff and European part of
the Force has been :--
In 1872,..
17
1878,.
1883,
of the Indian Contingent it was
In 1872,.
"}
1878,
1883,
and of Chinese.
In 1872,..
"
1878,. 1883,
.$583.00
562.00
577.00
.$185.00
169.00
169.00
.$101.00
113.00
114.00
Taking the whole force the annual cost per head for salaries only was estimated at
In 1872,..
..$232.00
1878,.
216.00
*
""
1888,.....
229.00
Taking into consideration pensions and all expenditure on account of Police shewn
in the Estimates for 1883, the total Estimates for the three years are:----
1872,
.$191,361
1878,
188,327
1883,
199,478
sums:-
1872,
1878,
1883,
.$122,000.00
120,000.00
161,200.00
and no doubt the Estimate for next year will be increased when a revision of the roll has been completed.
8. The Captain Superintendent of Police recommends that for the future no pensions should be given until after 15 years' service, except in case of invaliding, when 10 years' service might be considered as giving a claim to consideration of the case. I think that this recommendation should be approved. All members of the Force under the present law can obtain a free passage to the place from whence they came after each period of five years service. If they re-enlist for a third period of 5 years, their passage back would therefore still be paid by Government. Under these circumstances 15 years' service does not appear to be too long.
a free
711041
9. The next question is whether a bonus of 3 months' pay should in future con-
of tinue to be given at the expiration of each period of five years to all classes who do not elect to return home, but who re-enlist. A perusal of the report of a Commission appointed by Sir R. MACDONNELL in 1868, leads me to believe that the object of giving passage after five years' service was to encourage Europeans to go on leave, as it was considered that they could not serve continuously and efficiently for 10 years, and that no such provision was considered necessary for Indians or Chinese. However, the provisions of Ordinance 8 of 1869, which was passed after the report of this Commission, sanctions the payment of a bonus after each period of five years' service, whatever the nationality of the Constable, and whether or not he goes to revisit his native country, and the Captain Superintendent does not recommend any alteration.
I am inclined to think that the Ordinance ought to be modified and that it should provide that for future enlistments Europeans should be entitled to a free passage or bonus at any period after five years' service, when they wish either to go home, or to leave the service and remain in Hongkong; but that if they re-enlist without going home their claim should be deferred. In such case the right having been duly earned should be claimable either at the expiration of the further period for which a man enlists or at any intermediate period event of his health giving way or of his discharge for As the law now stands, in case he re-enlists and draws his bonus, and his any cause. health breaks down before the next term of five years expires, he has no claim whatever to a return passage and unless he has saved money would be left here destitute.