CO129-127 - Public Offices - 1867 — Page 588

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1st.-His Excellency wishes that the men should enlist, as the Bombay Police did, for a term of 5 years certain, with option to re-enlist for a similar period, and a right to a return passage to Calcutta, or to such sum in lieu thereof as the Indian Government may think an equivalent, but without pay from the expiration of actual service. In the event, however, of dismissal for misconduct, such right, as in the case of the Bombay Police, would be forfeited, but I have to explain that no man is ever visited with such extreme punishment without a special consideration of all the circumstances of his case by the Governor himself.

2ndly.-As to the proportion of superior Native officers of each grade to the ordinary policemen, His Excellency wishes that proportion to be the same as in India.

3rdly.-As to pension, a service of 10 years here entitles all parties in receipt of more than £30 per annum to a pension under the conditions embraced in the enclosed Regulations, which, however, are scarcely applicable to the case; but no pension accrues here to the families of deceased men, it being supposed that their families can benefit sufficiently by the increased pay given here as compared with India.

4thly-There is an ample allowance for clothing, and excellent quarters are provided for all the Police here.

Under the above conditions, properly explained to the men, His Excellency hopes there is little prospect of any reasonable cause of misapprehension or dissatisfaction on the part of the men, such as you state occurred at Ceylon.

7. His Excellency, however, would be very unwilling to accept the services of the Sikhs unless accompanied, as proposed, by Mr. Creagh, one of their own officers, and ac- quainted with their customs and prejudices.

8. Further, in reference to Mr Creagh himself, His Excellency would esteem it a favor if the period allowed for his retention in the Police List of the Punjab were made to correspond with the proposed term of service of the Sikhs . ., five years; and also such further fractional period as might enable him, if necessary, to conduct the men back to Calcutta, or even to the Punjab, if the Indian Government insists on the latter point.

9. As the whole matter must be viewed as a friendly experimental concession by the Indian Government to this Colony, Ilis Excellency feels it would give the men more confi- dence if they could look forward to being conducted back to their homes by one of their own officers in case they felt disinclined to renew their service with the Colony.

10. With a view to completing the information contained herein, I have the honor to enclose the Police Ordinance, and also copy of the Police Estimates for the current year, which latter show the several rates of pay assigned to the different grades of the force.

11. I trust the above explanations are sufficiently explicit; and I may add that, an- ticipating a favorable reply from the Indian Government, and with a view to obviating delay, a remittance of £800 has already been forwarded to the Punjab Government, to be placed at Mr. Creagh's disposal for preliminary expenses in the event of his enlisting the required number of recruits.

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POLICE ORDINANCE No. IX OF 1862.

By His Excellency Sir HERCULES GEORGE ROBERT ROBINSON, Knight, Governor and Com- mander-in-Chief of the Colony of Hong-Kong and its Dependencies, and Vice-Admiral of the same, with the Advice of the Legislative Council of Hong-Kong.

An Ordinance for the establishment and regulation of the Police Force of the Colony of Hong-Kong 3rd May 1862.

WHEREAS it is expedient that provision should be made for establishing and regulating the Police Force for the Colony of Hong-Kong: Be it enact-

Preamble.

ed by His Excellency the Governor of Hong-Kong with the advice

of the Legislative Council thereof as follows:-

Repeal of No. XII. 1844.

Police Force established

I. So much of Ordinance No. XII. of 1844 as has not been already repealed is hereby repealed.

II. From and after the passing of this Ordinance a Police Force shall be established for the service of this Colony which shall be commanded by a Captain Superintendent and shall consist of the Officers, Clerks, In- terpreters, subordinate Officers and Privates mentioned in Schedule A. hereunto annexed.

III. It shall be lawful for His Excellency the Governor from time to time to increase or diminish the strength of the Force as may to him appear To be varied by Go-

expedient.

vernor,

IV. The officers and others so to be appointed as aforesaid shall be paid the several monthly salaries specified opposite the respective ranks in Schedule A. before referred to.

Salaries.

V. The supply

Payment of Force to be voted in Annual Estimates.

required for the payment of the Police Establishment shall be voted annually as heretofore in the Annual Estimates and Appropriation Ordinances, and the ways and means shall be provided as prescribed by Ordinances No. II. of 1845 and No. III. of 1851.

VI. His Excellency the Governor is hereby empowered to appoint such Agents with reasonable remuneration for their services, and repayment of dis- Agents to enlist men for the Force.

bursements as to him shall seem necessary for the enlistment in other portions of Her Majesty's dominious of fit and proper men for service in the Police Force for this Colony.

VII. The Captain Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent shall previous to Oath of Captain Super- entering on the duties of their respective offices take before a Police

Magistrate of this Colony the following oath :-

intendent.

I, A. B. do swear that I will bear true allegiance to our Sovereign Lady the Queen, and that will well and truly serve Her Majesty in the office of Captain Superinten- dent of the Police [or Assistant Superintendent as the case may be] without favor or affection malice or ill-will; that I will cause Her Majesty's peace to be kept and preserved, and that I will prevent to the best of my power all offences against the same, and that while I shall continue to hold the said office I will to the best of my skill and knowledge discharge all the duties thereof faithfully according to Law. So help me God.

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