4.
The Pacific War broke out on 8/12/1941 and Hong Kong
surrendered on 25/12/1941.
During the war 1 was, over and
above essential outside work, closely attached to Police
Headquarters, being mainly responsible to the then.
Commissioner of Police, J.P. PENNEFATHER-EVANS Esq., for
work done by me. On 26/12/1941 he instructed me to go to
the Chief Inspector (then J. FENDER since retired) and to
have the personal files of each European Officer destroyed.
This we did, and I reported same to the Commissioner. The
Commissioner then produced the personal record cards of the European Contingent saying that these too would have to be
destroyed.
Before doing so I looked through the cards
and at the bottom of each was an entry such
(P.A.
*Fit for promotion"
Ty
sa.. K.A. BIDMEAD. P.A.
Personal Assistant to Commissioner of Police).
On the issue of the said Special Memo *F 9 (b)
each Police Superintendent had to report on the fitness or
otherwise for rpomotion of each Officer under his command.
The above is the result.
It will be noticed that the issue of this Special
Memo coincided with the outbreak of the Pacific war, the
surrender of Hong Kong resulted in the Police Force being
interned.
The conduct of the non-gazetted Officers of the Force
was exemplary, during their internment.
Since liberation the majority of these Officers have
for over a year been on recuperation leave in the United
Kingdom.
From this it will be seen that they did nothing
to jeopardise their rights to promotion.
Immediately prior to 12/3/47 rumours of impending
were prevalent,
promotions
Inspectors to Chief Inspector
C
many names were rumoured as being the ones to receive this
promotion.
Needless to say.
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