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Enclosure
The Daily Press.
HONGKONG, APRIL SOTH, 15.
ANNUAL INSPECTION OF THE
POLICE FORCE.
The annual inspection of the Hongkong Police Force was held yesterday afternoon at the Police Compound. All the men (about 330 strong of all ranks) who could be spared from duty were mustered, and at 4.45 p.m. were brought out into the compound and drawn up in companies, each boing in charge of an inspector. They were then put through a few movements by the Adjutant of the force, Captain Dempster, under the supervision of Capt. Superintendent Deane, and in the end they wore drawn up in double line, as follows, the mounted troopers were at the east oud, the Europeans forming the first part of the line along the south side, then the Sikhs, and across the west end were a company of Water Police lokangs and a company of lokangs on service ashore. The men were in full uniform and fully armed, and drawn up in this manner they received His Excellency the Governor with a general salute. His Excellency arrived shortly after 5.30, accompanied by Major-General Cameron, Commodore Morant, Major Cochrane (Brigade Major), Major Davies (Assistant Military Se-! cretary), Capt. Lewis (Aide-de-Camp to His Excellency), and Lieut. Somervillo" (Aide-de- | Camp to the General).
His Excellency and party walked down the lines and inspected the men, and when this was completed, the two companies of Europeans were whealed round so that the men were then formed in three sides of a hollow square, in the centre of which was the inspecting party.
HIS EXCELLENCY then addressed the forea | as follows:-Captain Superintendent, officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the Hongkong Police Corps,-This is my third annual inspection of this forea, and it is a great 'satisfaction to me to be enabled to congratulato you once more on your good conduct and effi- ciency. As you see, my gallant friends, General ! Cameron and Commodore Morant, have accom- panied me, and they authorise me to state that they are much pleased with your smart and soldierlike bearing, not unworthy of that famous corps, the Royal Irish Constabulary. As you are already aware, General Cameron was much gratified with the rifle practice of those armed with the Martini-Henry carbines whiob I pro- curod for you from England. At his recom- mendation I have increased the allowance for practice from 50 to 150 rounds per man.
If war: should unfortunately break out you will add 300 effective men to the strength of the garrison, equal to one-fourth of the whole number; and I am sure that you will stand firmly, shoulder to shoulder, with your brethren of the army. I am equally confident that in time of peace you will never allow your military drill and discipline to interfere with your civil duties. And now, my friends, let me hear you give three cheers for the Queen, cheers in which I am sure the Sikbs and Chinese in your body will join heartily with their English comrades.
Having given three cheers for Her Majesty, the men also gave three cheers for His Excel- lepey the Governor, and three more for General Cameron and Commodore Morant.
After the address to the men, Captain Deane conducted the party over the Police Barracks, where all the departments were inspected, and the men were then dismissed.
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REG 16 UN
May