The matter was taken up by Mr Johnson before sanction.
The signature of a Medical Officer which is appended to the Certificate of Conduct is a very poor apology for a medical certificate, and the Instructions on page 4 Head 8 are not distinct. Suspend for more formal evidence.
18/5/83
This man has since repeated his arrival in 8444.
Sir G. Bowth has since stated that his pension will date from 1 April (8687).
I inspect that they have put down ill-health as the cause of the retirement; they have really promised him a pension because he was one of the Policemen who entered the force under the local rule that they might be pensioned at the end of 10 years service without regard to health or age.
I know we have admitted that we cannot go behind the local rule as to Police pensions, though they are approved under the authority of an Ordinance. But we should certainly make a stand against admitting that a Policeman who after 2 years service is promoted to an ordinary Civil appointment necessarily retains his peculiar pension claims.
This is a glaring case, as the man is only now 33; if it is really the case that he has permanently lost his health, he may be on the pension list for the next 50 years. I suspect it was an afterthought getting the Colonial Surgeon to countersign the certificate.
As the man has come home, it is now easy to say what should be done; I should be disposed to ask Sir G. Browne to say that after 16 years service in H.K during which he has had no leave at all, he has recently been recommended for a pension by the local Govt.