54144/346
63A
Colonial Office,
Downing Street,
S.W.1.
131 March, 1947.
Dear Mr. Serpell,
Would you please refer to your letter 5.52892/05 of the 22nd January about the Indian Contingent of the Hong Kong Police Force.
The Governor's proposal to discharge what is left of the Indian contingent on abolition terms and to recruit in India & new force of 300 men confined to Mohammedans was referred by the Indie Ofiice to the Government of India who have replied that they are opposed to the employment of Indians as Policemen in "foreign" countries and that they
cannot agree to the recruitment of Indians for the Hong Kong Police Force. In view of this reply there were seems no alternative but to abandon the proposal to
retain aprendian Police Contingent in the Colony and we are telegraphing the Governor to this effect. In the meanwhile the Governor in savingram No. 31 of the 27th January of which I attach a copy asks for covering approval or an increase in the recruitment of local police in order to offset the lack of personnel in the Northern Chinese and Indian Contingen and the impending assumption of duties formerly carried out by Service personnel.
In view of the already serious shortage of police in Hong Kong, and or the deterioration in the position caused by the Indian Government's policy, we
D.K. SEMPALL, ESQ., 0.B.2.
/should