have an important bearing on the petitioners' contention
that their total emoluments were inadequate; and, in point
of fact following on the committee's report, very
fact, substantial increases in cost of living allowances were
approved with effect from the 1st January, 1949.
later
(6) It was felt that the petitioners' claim that
previous police service in the United Kingdom should be
counted towards pension called for sympathetic
consideration. As it had been established that the County
and Borough authorities concerned could not regard the men
recruited from their Forces in 1945 for the Hong Kong
Police as being on secondment, it was clear that, if
any concession were to be made, the Hong Kong Government
would have to assume responsibility for some proportion
of their pensionable police service in the United Kingdom.
This itan would of course require local legislation
and the Governor was asked to consider this suggestion
in a telegram sent on the 2nd March.
The latter suggestion of course involved a
good deal of local consideration, and the Governor had
not been able to reply to us by June, when we asked him
in addition to confirm that, in view of the recent increase
in cost of living allowances, he was now satisfied as to the adequacy of the petitioners' total emoluments.
The Governor's reply was received towards the
end of July this year. He informed us that he was ready
to have special legislation prepared for submission to
Legislative Council, whereby the Hong Kong Government
would accept full pension liability in respect of
police service in the United Kingdom of former members of
County and Borough Forces recruited in 1945 for Hong Kong. He also said that he was fully satisfied as to the adequacy
of the petitioners' total emoluments, compared generally
with those of other officers in the Service.
The