apparent.
V. The Chiurse polier are ex- amples of what Chinese Auxili. aries would be: utterly uarless when really required, but reark. ably docile and subordinate in Every day life. The leading article
The Daily Press.
HONGKONG, DECEMBER 10TH, 1879.
THE numerous cases heard at the Poline Court on Monday and yesterday arising out of the fire on Saturday afternoon demon. strate the fact that, although there has been a satisfactory decrease in crime lately, the criminals are still in our midst and only await an opportunity to develop their pre- datory instincts. The Police, to their credit be it said, appear to have succeeded in esta- blishing a better surveillance over the rascals, who haunt the Colony ever on the alert to steal or break into other people's premises. The Force is now very hardworked, and the sooner the contemplated reinforcements are made the better. It is to be hoped that the
from a local paper which I apprud, naditions will not be Chiness. At least one- describes accuratily the grueral ferling regarding there in the Colony.
W. A Chiusar Forer in Hong Kong would be simply a training school, from whruce most ofther officers. and rou Commissiourd Officers for the Chinese National Army
would be drawn, Either on come. plation of their term of service with us or by desertion if necessary.
X. There are few Europeans in Hong Kong who can speak ther
half the fresh contingent should be Euro- peans, and if the efficiency of the Force is to be kept up, care must be taken in its com- position. It has been shown, time after time, that, first, the lukongs are not to be depended upon in the event of a riot; second, that the vast majority of them are accessible to bribery; and third, that they are not held in respect by their fellow-countrymen. The majesty of the law should be respected even in the per- son of a policeman, and this is the case in England. Here, however, the Chinese re- gard the native policemen with anything but sentiments of admiration or respect. They are well aware how pervious to temptation all the official underlings and yaman rinners are in China, and ther no cause to expect greater virtue in the Hongkong lubangs. For these reasons, which are surely all-sufficing, we expect to see the half of the additional constables re- quired recruited from Europe or among Eu- ropeans here. It is stated that the ten policemen on their war from Scotland are merely a draft to make up the ordinary strength of the European contingent. From this we are led to believe that the ad- dition to be made to the Force will consist of natives or Indians. Against the latter the chief objection is their want of knowledge of either English or Chinese.
see
Chinese language with any accuracy, They should, when possible, be induced
and great difficulty is Experienced in providing for proper interpretation. The difficulty oflearning it would be a great obstacle to Officers of a Chinese Acrxiliary Force, and without a knowledge of it there could be no real control, more Especially in times of Emergency.
to remain in the Force for a second term, as too often they leave just as they are becoming really experienced and valuable. In every respect the Sikhs are more reliable than the Chinese, and, as a rule, make good constables, though much inferior, of course, to the Europeans brought out from home. Of course the expense of importing the latter is very heavy, but the contingent should be kept up to a certain standard. It is unfortn- nately necessary to maintain an exceptionally strong Police Force in Hongkong, and as that is the case too much attention cannot be given to the selection of suitable meu for it. We have for years protested against the tendency to increase the Chinese element in the Force, as tending to impair its general efficiency and render it un reliable on an emergency, and trust that the projected increase in it will consist of other material.
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16.
17.
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Y. Whilst a Chiurse Forer would be the cheapest of any raise, it would certainly be the dearest in the end.
Z. Lastly, a Chiurse Forer would not only be found inefficient for combatant purposes, and unreliable. for posting in places of importance in wartime, but it would be a positive sourer of weakness in the farrison, whether we were opposed ban Europeau or a Enemy, and it's presence would operate injuriously on the moral of the remainder ofther Troops.
Certainly not.
Chinese
They would always be a source of weakurss, but this would be the only way to utilize them if obliged to do so, and this prin. ciple is at present observed whruever Chinese watchmen are Employed to relieve sratries.
Natives of India.
The Existing Volunteer Corps is Artillery, and I do not thick
that its services as such would Ever be required in this Colony.
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