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to the Police Force is a mistake unless the Cadets are prepared to
make their careers in it. In such a small Force that would mean very
slow promotion indeed.
What ought I think to be done is to regard the Police Forces of all the Crown Colonies as one for purposes of promo-
tion of the Officers. This would offer a fine career for Cadets who
had a natural bent for Police Work, and care could be taken that.at
least two Executive Officers in Hongkong were Officers who bad a
knowledge of Chinese.
Other Colonies would benefit too by the in-
troduction as years went by of Officers of the standard of Cadets.
4.
At the time that Mr. Woodcock was appointed,
the post of Secretary to the Sanitary Board was not regarded as one
to be filled by a Cadet. Otherwise a Cadet would probably have been
recommended. I have elsewhere recommended that if opportunity offers
Mr. Woodcock should be transferred back to the Education Department
and a Cadet put in his place.
5.
From the Cadet's point of view the appointments
of Mr. Irving, Mr. Hazeland, Captain Lyons, and Mr. Jones are indefen-
sible, and I must say that Cadets have a legitimate grievance as far
.as these appointments are concerned, excellent appointments in them-
.selves though some of them are. The Secretary of State instituted the
Cadet system. It has its advantages and its disadvantages. But the
.system having been introduced it ought to be adhered to not only in
fairness to the Officers who enter the Colonial Service under it,
but in the interests of efficiency. No system can give good results if
frequent and violent departures are made from it destructive of all
continuity.
6.
The appointment of Mr. L. A. M. Johnston opens
up a question which should receive serious.consideration.
The Secretary of State is very anxious to make
the Hongkong Cadet Service one with that of the Straits Settlements
.and