CO129-127 - Public Offices - 1867 — Page 579

No.57

1867

Government of India.

577

2112645

1

2

HOME DEPARTMENT.

JUDICIAL.

No. 42, dated the 30th August 1867.

Copy.

Letter to the Right Honorable the Secretary of State for India.

From H. J. BALL, Esq., Acting Colonial Secretary, to the Secretary to the Government of

India, Home Department, Simla,-(No. 297, dated Hong-Kong, the 6th June 1807). I AM directed by His Excellency the Governor to acknowledge the receipt of a copy of the communication No. 2822, addressed by you on the 20th of March last, to Mr. Thornton, from whence it appears that the Governor General in Council had proposed that a certain monthly deduction should be made from the pay of the Sikhs recently enlisted into the Hong- Kong Police, and carried to the account of each man, sufficient to cover the cost of his passage, and to allow him a moderate sum for his journey and maintenance to his home, on his arrival in India. It further appears that this proposition was made by the Governor General in Council, because he was of opinion that the condition proposed by this Government of forfeiture of return passage from China by Sikh Policemen, dismissed for grave mis- conduct, would entail hardship upon, and eventually render service in China distasteful to, the Sikh population.

His Excellency the Governor instructs me to inform you that, having regard to the quarter whence that suggestion proceeded, His Excellency has given it full consideration; but nevertheless cannot believe that its adoption would promote that good order and discipline amongst the Sikh members of the Police force which it is so important to maintain; but, on the contrary, His Excellency is of opinion that if the Sikh Policemen once became aware that dismissal for misconduct would enable the offender to return home at an earlier period than would be the case if his conduct were good, the establish- ment of such a fund might operate as a premium for misconduct.

Under these circumstances, I am directed by the Governor to inform you that IIis Excellency is reluctantly compelled to decline promoting the propos- ed arrangement, although of course if the men should agree to establish such a fund on their own account, His Excellency would offer no opposition.

His Excellency the Governor thinks it better to leave a liberally disposed Government to deal with the Sikh Policemen according to their behaviour, and that there seems no reason to anticipate difficulties, as Mr. Creagh, with whose energy, discretion and efficiency His Excellency has every reason to be satisfied, has succeeded in safely landing in this Colony as fine a body of men as ever arrived from India.

237: 1667

In continuation of Despatch No. 23, dated! 11th June last, forwarils, for information, copy of correspondence regarding the return passage of the Sikh Police enlisted for service in Hong-Kong in the event of the dismissal of any of the men from the Force.