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increased rate of pay to that which they received in the Army, alone explains the cause of their soliciting a place in the ranks of the Police.
With reference, also, to those Europeans who have but lately arrived from England, we learn (from one of them, a most intelligent Officer) that, when Volunteers for the Hongkong Police were desired to come forward, the advantages of the service were explained to be of a purely temporary nature, no mention being made, until the last moment before departure, of the provisions of Section XII of the Local Ordinance already quoted.
years
unless
These men, however, seem to have no intention of serving beyond five they can obtain leave for a trip home, and we are of opinion that, even if at the expiration of five years' service greater inducements, than the Ordinance at present holds out, were promised, still such men as are wanted in the Force would be disinclined to remain.
Undoubtedly, the service entails far harder work than that experienced by British Soldiers in Hongkong or Police Constables in any portion of Great Britain, and it is most requisite to offer inducements of a higher class than that attainable by serving in other positions. But though the labour is of so peculiar a nature, and such as, owing to effects of the climate, has almost invariably prevented any very lengthened stay in the Colony, yet there seems no reason why a man who had become unfit for Service in Hongkong should not still be able to do profitable work in his native country.
The advantages, therefore, should be great for the time being, and no adequate Public gain will be effected by promising rewards, in the shape of Pensions, to be enjoyed many years hence.
Under any circumstances, however, we are of opinion that unless provision be made for men to go home at the end of five years, the term of ten years now regulated by the Police Ordinance should not be altered.
The men are enlisted in England for five years, at the expiration of which period they are entitled to a Bonus of three months' pay. This is sufficient in the case of Inspectors to provide a passage to England; and as a further enlistment in Hongkong for five years (making on the whole a continuous term of ten years of most arduous duty) may be effected with the fullest intention of serving this period, yet for the last two or three years at least of this period owing to the exposure and the laborious duties imposed but few are capable of completing their term with advantage to themselves or to the Colony, and expediency would call for not holding out inducements to the men to stay on except after a complete change and rest from work. They should be advised to go home, and notice given them that if within eighteen months they felt willing to re-join, their return passages would be paid by Government, which would thus secure experienced men in place of raw recruits.
the
These should be called on to enlist for five years more, and after ten years same plan should be adopted of sending them home with the prospect of a return, when the then near advantage of a Pension after the third period of five years, or of fifteen years in all, would doubtless induce men to serve their full time.
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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 called for this enquiry, and upon which it is not necessary to comment. Further, 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 execution 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, on 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 gratuities 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, Acting Colonial Secretary. E. W. GOODLAKE, Police Magistrate. F. W. MITCHELL, Postmaster General. W. M. DEANE, Acting Superintendent of Police.
Hongkong, 17th March, 1868.
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