f
CON
IDENTI A L.
Sir,
CH
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
HONGKONG. 24th. February, 1913.
545
Admy 33626
سے
4232
52-3
I have the honour to inform you that I have had under consideration the question raised in your Despatch No. 331 of the 2nd. of November, 1912, of the Colonial Government under- -taking the policing of the Dockyard and other laval Establish-
-ments here.
2.
I regret that I cannot see my way to recommend the assumption by the Colonial Government of this responsibility. In the first place the objection, raised in Sir Henry Blake's
Despatch No. 569 of the 31st. December, 1902, of increased difficul- -ty in recruiting for the Hongkong Police Force is by no means now removed.
There still is great difficulty in keeping
the European Contingent of the Hongkong Police Force up to its strength, while it is no easier now than it has been in the past to obtain eligible recruits for the Indian Contingent.
The Naval Authorities would no doubt expect the Colonial Police Department to keep the Police doing duty in the Naval Establishments constantly up to strength. This would often be impossible without drawing on the numbers required for Colonial
purposes.
3.
Moreover the Naval Authorities would expect to be supplied with thoroughly efficient Police. This might mean a
drain of the best men from the Colonial Police.
4.
.THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
LEWIS HARCOURT, M.P.,
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