235
subscriptions
I have the honor to be,
My Lord,
Your Lordship's most obedient
humble servant,
Extennedy
Governor.
HONGKONG, the 22nd day of April, 1873.
To the RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF KIMBERLEY, Her Majesty's Principal
Secretary of State for the Colonies.
The Humble Memorial of the undersigned Residents in the Island of Hongkong
SHEWETH-
1.-That, in the opinion of your Memorialists, a great injustice has been done to one of Her Majesty's subjects in this Colony.
2.-That application has been made to the local authorities for redress, but without avail, and therefore your Memorialists feel constrained humbly to submit the following statement for your Lordship's consideration.
CASE.
3.-That George Brierly, for seven years a member of the Royal Irish Constabulary, and for nearly three years a member of the Metropolitan Police Force, had, whilst acting in the latter capacity, his attention directed to the following passage in the "Metropolitan Police Force Orders," dated 6th December, 1872:-
"Volunteers for Duty in Hongkong.
The superintendents will submit by first despatch bag on the 8th, a list of single men properly qualified, willing to proceed to Hongkong. The constables selected must be of good character, of at least three years service, under 32 years of age, of fair height and of good constitution. The pay of the constables is fixed at 40 dollars, equal to 9 pounds a month, and the men selected will have to enter into an agreement binding them to serve for a period of five years: an annual supply of clothing and free quarters will be provided. A free passage will also be given, and the expenses of each man paid to the place of embarkation. The men selected will have the option of renewing their engagements at the expiration of the term for which they agree to enter, or of being sent home at the public expense."
4.-In consequence of the above notice the said George Brierly presented himself to Charles Vandeleur Creagh, Esq., who had been authorised by the Colonial Government of Hongkong to enrol men, in accordance with its provisions, and, having satisfactorily proved himself to be in possession of the qualifications mentioned therein, was forthwith enrolled.
5.-That the said Charles Vandeleur Creagh, Esq., not being in possession of copies of the Regulations of the Hongkong Police Force, informed the said George Brierly, at the time of enrolment, that the rules of that service were similar to those of the Metropolitan Police Force.
6.-That the said George Brierly, on the faith of the said representation, proceeded to Hongkong, in company with the other men accepted by the said Charles Vandeleur Creagh, Esq., for the aforesaid service, and arrived thereat on the 10th day of March last.
7.-That the said George Brierly was, upon the 12th day of March, duly sworn in as a member of the Police Force of Hongkong, and accepted the oath, on the faith of the aforesaid representation of the said Charles Vandeleur Creagh, Esq., and forthwith entered upon the performance of his duties.
8.-That at the time of swearing-in no copies of Regulations were supplied to the said George Brierly or any of his comrades.
9.-That, on the 14th day of March, the Captain Superintendent of Police summoned before him the newly-enrolled men, and explained to them the rules they were expected to observe.
10.-That, on the 16th day of March, a printed copy of the Regulations, which the said Captain Superintendent had affected to explain, was given to each of the newly-enrolled men, from which they learned, for the first time, of the existence of a rule requiring them to submit monthly to a disgusting and degrading personal inspection.
11.-That upon enquiry it was discovered that this inspection was conducted, under circumstances of the most humiliating character, with the aid sometimes of a coloured turnkey, sometimes of a convict.
12.-That it was further discovered that the Chinese portion of the force were exempt from the aforesaid inspection.
13.-That it was also ascertained that, about 15 months previously, a respectful memorial had been addressed, by the Europeans then members of the force, to the Colonial Government of Hongkong, complaining of the aforesaid inspection, and petitioning for its abolition, but that no reply thereto had, up to that time, been communicated to the men.
8.
235
subscriptions
I have the hover to be,
My Lord.
Your Lordship's mat deedient
humble servant,
Extennedy
Governor.
HONGKONG, the 22nd day of April, 1873.
To the RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF KIMBERLEY, Her Majesty's Principal
Secretary of State for the Colonies.
The Humble Memorial of the undersigned. Residents in the Island of Hongkong
SHEWETH-
1-That, in the opinion of your Memorialists, a great injustice has been done to one of Her Majesty's subjects in this Colony.
3.That application has been made to the local authorities for redress, but without avail, and therefore your Memorialists feel constrained humbly to submit the following statement for your Lordship's consideration.
CASE.
3.That George Briarly, for seven years a member of the Royal Irish Consta- bulary, and for nearly three years a member of the Metropolitan Police Force, had, whilst acting in the latter capacity, his attention directed to the following passage in the Metropolitan Police Force Orders," dated 6th December, 1872:-
"Volunteers for Duty in Hongkong.
The superintendouts will subunit by first despatch bag on the Wth, a list of single men properly qualified, willing to proceed to Hongkong. The constables selected unust be of youd character, of at least three years service, under 32 years of age, of fair height and of good constitution. The pay of the constables is fixed at 40 dollars, equal to 9 pounds a month, and the men selected will have to enter into an agreement binding them to serve for a period of five years: au anal supply of clothing and free quarters will be provided. A free passage will also be given, and the expenses of each man paid to the pluce of embarkation. The men seletted will have the option of renewing their engagements at the expiration of the term for which they agree to enter, or of being sent home at the public expense,"
4.--In consequence of the above notice the said George Briarly presented himself to Charles Vandeleur Creagh, Esq., who had been authorised by the Colonial Govern- ment of Hongkong to enrol men, in accordance with its provisions, and, having satisfactorily proved himself to be in possession of the qualifications mentioned therein, was forthwith enrolled.
5.-That the said Charles Vandeleur Creagh, Esq., not being in possession of copies of the Regulations of the Hongkong Police Force, informed the said George Briarly, at the time of enrolment, that the rules of that service were similar to those of the Metropolitan Police Force.
6.--That the said George Briarly, on the faith of the said representation, pro- ceeded to Hongkong, in company with the other men accepted by the said Charles Vandeleur Creagh, Esq., for the aforesaid service, and arrived thereat on the 10th day of March last.
7.---That the said George Briarly was, upon the 12th day of March, duly sworn in as a member of the Police Force of Hongkong, and accepted the oath, on the faith of the aforesaid representation of the said Charles Vandeleur Creagh, Esq., and forthwith entered upon the performance of his duties.
S.-That at the time of swearing-in no copies of Regulations were supplied to the said George Briarly or any of his comrades.
{
9.That, on the 14th day of March, the Captain Superintendent of Police summoned before him the newly-enrolled men, and explained to them the rules they were expected to observe.
10. That, on the 16th day of March, a printed copy of the Regulations, which the said Captain Superintendent had affected to explain, was given to each of the newly- enrolled meu, from which they learned, for the first time, of the existence of a rule requiring them to submit monthly to a disgusting and degrading personal inspection.
11-That upon enquiry it was discovered that this inspection was conducted, under circumstances of the most humiliating character, with the aid sometimes of a coloured turnkey, sometimes of a convict.
12.--That it was further discovered that the Chinese portion of the force were exempt from the aforesaid inspection.
13.-That it was also ascertained that, about 15 months previously, a respectful memorial had been addressed, by the Europeans then members of the force, to the Colonial Government of Hongkong, complaining of the aforesaid inspection, and petitioning for its abolition, but that no reply thereto had, up to that time, been communicated to the men.
i
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