CONFIDENTIAL
No:
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
HONG KONG.
18. 81
166
RECEIVED
22 NOV 1946 C. O. REGY
Sir,
Ref: (23.
14th November, 1946
I have the honour to address you on the
subject of the order of seniority in the gazetted ranks
of the Hong Kong Police Force. I find some difficulty
in deciding upon the relative seniority of Police Officers
who have been appointed since 1939. I understand that
similar difficulties were experienced elsewhere after the
last war and it is probable that other Colonies are now
in the same position. I shall be grateful for your
advice.
2.
The strict application of the provisions
regarding seniority in Colonial Office pamphlet R.D.W.6
would result in certain anomalies and I therefore consider
it desirable to make certain adjustments. Two subordinate
Police Officers were promoted to be Assistant Superintendents
of Police during the war period prior to the occupation of
the Colony by the Japanese, namely, Mr. F. E. E. Booker
who was promoted on 1st April, 1940, and Mr. A. H. Elston
who was promoted on 23rd July, 1941. I have recommended
in my Confidential (2) despatch of 16th October, 1946, that
Mr. W. R. Chester-Woods and Mr. L. R. Whant should also be
promoted from the Inspectorate to Assistant Superintendent
of Police rank with effect from 1st January, 1946. If these
four officers are included in the group of those appointed
during the war period for purposes of seniority in accordance
with Colonial Office pamphlet R.D.W.6, they will all be at
the top of this group as they are considerably older than the
normal age of entry even under wartime conditions. I therefore
propose that these officers be excluded from the "war group"
and that Messrs. Booker and Elston should be senior and
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
A. CREECH JONES, P.C., M.P.