Government House, Hongkong, 1st October, 1904.
Referring to your Despatch No. 204 dated the 6th July, 1904, enquiring whether after considering the objections set out in your Despatch No. 448 of the 17th September, 1903, I agreed with the proposal that Members of the Hongkong Police Force should be allowed to retire on pension on completing 20 years' service, instead of as now on completing 15 years' service, provided they have attained the age of 45,
I have the honour to inform you that I do not consider that sufficient advantage is likely to be gained from the alteration to justify the adoption of a different rule in Hongkong to that which is in force in the Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient
Humble servant,
M. THATHARS
Governor, &c..
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
ALFRED LYTTELTON, K.C., M.P.,
No. 359
Hongkong
03
Page 314