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Kess, of one of my periodical inspections of that Force.
INSPECTION OF THE POLICE FORCE.
His Excellency the Governor inspected the Police Force on Saturday, the 17th May, at the Central Police Station. As many of the men as could be spared from their duties were mustered in the compound, forming a body about 300 strong. On this occasion the winter uniform was worn, and the men were fully armed, and with their new carbines and new helmets, looked exceedingly smart and well equipped. The Europeans were drawn up in double line nearest the entrance, the lines being carried the greater part of the length of the compound and the Sikhs made up the other half of the lines. The Chinese constables were drawn up at right angles with them, at the western end of the compound, also in double line, and it was in this order they were inspected. The European and Sikhs are tall, very fine men and presented a striking appearance. Shortly after five o'clock Sir George Bowen, with Major-General Sargent and Commodore Morant arrived, attended by the officers of their staffs, when the Governor was received with a general salute. The inspection was then proceeded with, after which the men were drawn up in three sides of a square, and were addressed by Sir George Bowen.
His Excellency spoke as follows:- Captain Dempster, Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers, and men of the Hongkong Police Force, - I assure you that my presence at this Parade has afforded me sincere gratification. I am much pleased by the bearing and demeanour of all branches of the Force, and by the excellent reports which I receive of your discipline and good conduct from the Acting Superintendent. As you see, I have come here to-day accompanied by my gallant friend, General Sargent, Commanding Her Majesty's Forces on this Station, and by Commodore Morant. General Sargent authorises me to tell you that he is greatly pleased by your discipline and soldierly bearing. You may well be proud of this praise from an officer of General Sargent's high rank, long experience, and distinguished reputation. As the General remarked just now to me, your appearance reminds him of that splendid corps, the Royal Irish Constabulary. It is certain that the Hongkong Police, as an armed force, is analogous to the Irish Constabulary, and not to any body of civil police in England. It is important, under the circumstances of this Colony, that you should keep up your military drill, as well as attend to your civil duties. I am rather surprised that I do not see here to-day any officers of the Volunteers, especially as I understood that some of them would be present. Of course, in the event of any serious disturbance the Volunteers would co-operate with the Police in maintaining law and order; while, in time of war, in case of foreign attack, both the Police and the Volunteers would act as auxiliaries to the garrison. I have much pleasure in taking this opportunity of expressing my satisfaction at the cordial relations maintained by the Hongkong Police not only with Her Majesty's soldiers and seamen, but also with the seamen of Foreign men-of-war, who constantly visit this port. Those friendly relations between the soldiers and the Police have not always been kept up in other garrison towns, and they reflect great credit here on all concerned. We all hope that peace will be preserved, but if war should unhappily break out, I am confident that the naval, military, and civil forces at Hongkong will unite as one man in defence of the authority of the Queen, and of this Colony, which is at once the Gibraltar and the Malta of England in the Far East. And now I call on you to give three cheers for the Queen.
The cheers were most heartily given. It is certain that the drill of the Police has been greatly improved by the Acting Superintendent (Capt. Dempster), who has spared no exertions to teach them the use of the carbines and sword bayonets which have been lately procured for them from England by the Governor, to replace the former almost useless and obsolete arms. It is understood that the Home Government have authorised the appointment of Capt. Dempster as Military Adjutant to the Police, on the return from leave of the Superintendent (Mr. Deane). The Adjutant will receive pay at the rate of only £300 per annum; whereas the Civil Deputy Superintendent, whose office has been abolished, received about £800 per annum. Thus greater economy and greater efficiency will be secured.
It will be seen from my speech on this occasion that General Sargent, Commanding the Troops on this Station, a skilful and experienced Officer, accompanied me to the inspection, and authorised me to tell the Force that he was greatly pleased with their discipline and soldierly bearing.