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CONFIDENTIAL.
Enclosure No.7 to China
letter No.1791/01034 of 29th November, 1929.
1, RECOMMENDATIONS WITH REGARD TO INDIAN GUARDS.
APPENDIX
Present System of Indian Guards and Watchmen
in Hongkong.
This force is quite distinct from the Indian police; it is maintained to supply anti-piracy guards to any ships which may apply for them and also to provide armed watchmen for government buildings, banks and private firms as required from time to time.
2。 There is no age limit for the men, provided they are fit. They may give a month's notice when they wish to leave the force and, if they have good records, generally end their careers in the Colony as private (unarmed) watchmen.
3, A card-index is kept at the police station and each guard has a character sheet giving details of his service, offences, etc. A roster is also kept and men who are not actually employed report every morning when the "longest off", if suitable, is given any job which is outstanding. When not employed the men get no "retainer" but a man is seldom idle for more then three days.
4 Guards in ships receive $25 a month, and the senior guard $27. Ashore on "casual" duty 2.20 per day. On long duty ashore they get considerably less, but higher than ships' guards. It is a significant fact that the guards are always anxious to serve in a ship despite the lower pay, The reason probably being that they have greater opportunities for augmenting their pay unofficially.
5. An Indian guard, on joining a ship, signs articles in the ordinary way. He is kept under the jurisdiction of the Master and has nothing to do with the police. One month's notice to leave may be given by either side and when a new guard is sent by the police a fee of $1 is paid by the Master. The late guard then reports at the police station and is put on the roster.
6. Owing to the popularity of see, as opposed to shore service, and in order to assist them in choosing the guards for the former, the police authorities have inaugurated a short course of weapon training and the men cannot go as piracy guards until they have passed an examination. They learn the quick handling of pistols, Winchesters and other firearms.
7.
About 75% of the guards and watchmen sie ex Indian army men. They are all either Punjabi, Mussulmans or Sihks. The police try and recruit roughly equal numbers of each to avoid jealousy but they have to be careful not to mix them when sending men to ships.
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