Force.
Hong Kong Police Doros
Proceedings of the Un-officiat
Justices of the Pence
the
30th August, and on the 2nd September, 1871, relative to their appointment of a Commission of Inquiry into the state of the Stong Kong Police Force..
The Daily Press
HONGKONG, SEPTEMBER 7TH, 1871.
COLONIAL-SECRETARY'S OFFICE,
HONGKONG, 6th September, 1871. SIR,-His Excellency the Lieut.-Governor in Conncil having considered the application made by the deputation of certain of the Justices of the Peace, which he had the honor to receive on the 2nd instant, I am instructed to address to you the following reply, which I shall feel obliged by your communicating to the gentle- men who accompanied you on that occasion.
2.-The task of protecting the residents of Hongkong from the lawless characters who especially at certain periods of the year pour down on the Colony from Canton, Macao," and other places on the mainland, is one of extreme difficulty, even for those who possess special qualifications for the purpose.
3. His Excellency Sir Richard Graves Mac- Donnell had directed his particular attention to the improvement of the Police Force of this Colony, and the Lieut.-Governor has been at all times most anxious to promote the efficiency of this branch of the public service by any changes in the existing arrangements which his professional experience could suggest.
4.Her Majesty's Government, however, are not disposed to sanction any material alteration in the present constitution of the force during the absence of Sir Richard MacDonnell, whose early return to the Colony may now be antici.: pated. Accordingly, when the Hon. Chief- Justice Smale in the month of November last suggested the appointment of a commission to inquire into the state of the Police Force, and caused a written statement to that effect to be recorded in the minutes of the Legislative Council, Her Majesty's Government, to whom the matter was referred, did not concur in the necessity for the proposed inquiry.
5-There can be very little doubt that the Police Force is numerically insufficient at pre- sent, having regard to the increase in the num- ber of old offenders and suspicious characters who have necessarily been permitted to remain in the Colony since the disallowance of Ordi- nance No. 7 of 1870. Two measures, however, were proposed at the last meeting of the Legis. lative Council, which will enable the Govern- ment rapidly to recruit the Police Fores, now, below its authorized strength, at a small ex- pense to the Colony, and also to deal with offenders who have been deported, and are now at large in Hongkong, in violation of the ordera passed by the Governor in Council for their banishment.
6.- His Excellency has no doubt that Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell, will upon bis re- turn to the Colony, deal with the subject of crime with his well-known energy and ability, and if any circumstances should occur to delay his re- turn, the Lieutenant-Governor will be prepared to submit to the Secretary of State, the mea- sures which, in bis opinion, are likely to prove. useful in increasing the security of the Colony. 7-Under these circumstances, His Excel- lency does not consider that he would derive much assistance from the labors of the Com- mission which you proposed, though be begs to express bis thanks to thegentlemen associated with you, who were willing to devote their time and attention to the subject.-I have the honor to be, Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
J. GARDINER AUSTIN,
Colonial Secretary.
The Hon. P. RYRIE,
&c., &c.. δες
Main
Enclosure Je, in "everal Whitfeilds Derpatch Po 148 of 27 September, 1871. _
70
11365
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.