7.
and in the main were dealt with merely as a "show" rather
than a deterent so that the Japanese in charge of the camp
would not arrest, try, and inflict their own types of
punishments.
H
The exception to the rule was the conduct of
F.J.CLARKE, who was tried and convicted for "misappropriation
of Communal Rations", i.e., "pinching his comrades' food".
This offence he committed whilst in a position of trust.
This case became the cause celebre" of the whole camp life.
He appealed against the conviction and penalty imposed by
the Local Tribunal which was presided over by MA H.G.SHELDON
K.C., (at present on long leave in the United Kingdom).
The appeal went before the Camp Tribunal who upheld the
decision of the Local Tribunal. He again appealed against
their decision and a Special Tribunal was set up to hear
the appeal. They in turn, upheld the previous decisions.
On 19/4/47 my Committee and I appeared before the
Commissioner of Police on a routine Welfare matter and
during this appearance I brought up the matter of these
promotions. The Commissioner's reply was that in the case
of CLARKE he had been recommended by the Board
whom had been in Internment Camp with CLARKE and had taken
everything into consideration.
all of
In the case of Mc.CA HEY, no reply was made, but the
Commissioner stated that any such promotions were sure to be
unpopular how truthful he is!
The Promotion Board consists of the five most senior
Included in this Board
gazetted Officers in the Force.
are Messrs. W.La B.SPARROW and 4:5, WILSON, these two while on
recuperation leave in the United Kingdom approached the
Colonial Office with a list of names of Fre-War Officers,
intending that the greater number of these officers should
not be allowed to return to Hong Kong as they were unfit,
not in the physical sense, to be members of the Police Force.
I tackled the latter.
•