220
18
H.
Police rates:---
Estimate. Rate per cent. Actual. 1867, 132,000 9% 1872, 122,000 7% 160,436.15 117,808.26 1878, 120,000 7% 127,826.85 1879, 129,000 6% 112,655.88 1880, 124,200 7% 148,901.60 1881, 160,000 7% 143,243.40 1882, 161,200 7% *167,916.66 1883, 161,200 * Probable.I.
HONGKONG POLICE PENSIONS.
Report of Commission relative to.
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,
HONGKONG, 17th March, 1868.
SIR--I have the honour to lay before your Excellency the accompanying Report of the Commission appointed to enquire into the subject of Police Pensions.
Much delay has unfortunately occurred in the course of our investigations, more especially owing to the absence and subsequent sickness of one of the Members, and the Commission therefore regret that the time has only now arrived for transmitting the result of their deliberations.
I have the honour to be,
Your Excellency's
Most obedient humble Servant,
CECIL C. SMITH,
Chairman.
His Excellency
SIR RICHARD GRAVES MACDONNELL, C.B.,
&c., &c., &c.
REPORT.
In obedience to the Instructions conveyed in His Excellency the Governor's Memorandum No.250 of the Twenty-first day of October last, we have the honour to report on the subject of Retiring Pensions to Members of the Police Force of Hongkong.
The existing arrangement is based on the provisions of Section XII of Ordinance No.9 of 1862, which is as follows:-
"Whenever any Inspector, Sergeant, or Constable shall have completed the full Term of Service of Ten Years in the Police Force, he shall be entitled, in addition to the Bonus or Passage money mentioned in Section X, to an Annual Pension of Fifteen-sixtieths of the Annual pay of his Rank, and also for every full and complete Year's Service after Ten Years, to an addition, to the Annual Pension, of one-sixtieth, in respect of each additional Year of such Service; and such Pension shall be computed upon the Amount of the Annual Pay enjoyed by the Person retiring at the Time of his Retirement; Provided he shall have been in the Receipt of the same for at least Three Years; otherwise the Pension shall be calculated upon the Average Amount of Pay received by such Person for the Three Years next preceding the Commencement of such Pension; Provided always, that His Excellency the Governor shall and may grant Superannuation Allowance or a fixed sum by Way of Compensation, to any Inspector, Sergeant, or Constable of the Force, who shall be disabled for further Service, by reason of Wounds or Injuries received in the actual Execution of his duty."
This question we have very fully considered and discussed, but in reporting the result of our deliberations, it is expedient to premise that the views now submitted are intended to refer prospectively, and not to the position of Members of the Police Force who by this time have become qualified to Retiring Pensions.
We consider that the Police Ordinance No.9 of 1862 undoubtedly requires amendment, as we unanimously hold it to be prejudicial to the best interests of the Colony that any Member of the Police Force, though he may have done nothing actually to deserve dismissal, should by mere force of lengthened service be able ipso facto to claim a Pension which the Executive is unable to annul or modify in the event of any mal-practices being subsequently discovered.
We, therefore, would suggest that Section XII of the Ordinance mentioned be altered in such manner as would allow of no Pension to a Police Officer being granted except on approval by the Governor in Council.
And further, the same Authority should be able, at any time subsequent to the granting a Pension, to order its withdrawal should satisfactory proof be adduced of mal-practices on the part of the Pensioner during his term of Service.
The Pension should be at the rate already fixed, but in certain cases it may be deemed advisable to modify the amount or grant simply a Bonus or Passage money, and this power should be reserved to the Executive Council.
In making this suggestion, we have not lost sight of what has been put forward by some who maintain that, without holding out great inducements to good men to serve in the Colonial Police, a difficulty will occur in obtaining recruits.
We have had under examination European Constables of all ranks, and the conclusion drawn from our enquiries is, that men do not join the Police Force for the prospective advantage of a Retiring Pension, but solely with a view to improving their present condition.
It appears that in the Hongkong Police Force, but few join with any intention of remaining long in the Colony. If they be Sailors, as many of them are, their roving disposition induces them to enlist for a change only, and, if they be Soldiers, the
220
18
H.
Police rates:---
Estimate.
Rate per cent.
Actual.
1867,
.132,000
98%
1872,
..122,000
7%
160,436.15
117,808.26
1878,
.120,000
74.
127,826.85
1879,
..129,000
63%
112,655.88
1880,
.124.200
72%
148,901.60
1881,
..160,000
73%
143,243.40
1882,
...161,200
74%
*167,916.66
1883,
..161,200
* Probable.
I.
HONGKONG POLICE PENSIONS.
Report of Commission relative to.
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,
HONGKONG, 17th March, 1868.
SIR--I have the honour to lay before your Excellency the accompanying Report of the Commission appointed to enquire into the subject of Police Pensions.
Much delay has unfortunately occurred in the course of our investigations, more especially owing to the absence and subsequent sickness of one of the Members, and the Commission therefore regret that the time has only now arrived for transmitting the result of their deliberations.
I have the honour to be,
Your Excellency's
Most obedient humble Servant,
His Excellency
SIR RICHARD GRAVES MACDONNELL, C.B.,
&c.,
&C..
&c.
REPORT.
CECIL C. SMITH,
Chairman.
In obedience to the Instructions conveyed in His Excellency the Governor's Memorandum No. 250 of the Twenty-first day of October last, we have the honour to report on the subject of Retiring Pensions to Members of the Police Force of Hongkong.
The existing arrangement is based on the provisions of Section XII of Ordinance No. 9 of 1862, which is as follows:-
"Whenever any Inspector, Sergeant, or Constable shall have completed the full "Term of Service of Ten Years in the Police Force, he shall be entitled, in addition to "the Bonus or Passage money mentioned in Section X, to an Annual Pension of
19
"Fifteen-sixtieths of the Annual pay of his Rank, and also for every full and complete "Year's Service after Ten Years, to an addition, to the Annual Pension, of one-sixtieth, "in respect of each additional Year of such Service; and such Pension shall be computed ' upon the Amount of the Annual Pay enjoyed by the Person retiring at the Time of "his Retirement; Provided he shall have been in the Receipt of the same for at least "Three Years; otherwise the Pension shall be calculated upon the Average Amount "of Pay received by such Person for the Three Years next preceding the Commence- ment of such Pension; Provided always, that His Excellency the Governor shall and may grant Superannuation Allowance or a fixed sum by Way of Compensation, to any Inspector, Sergeant, or Constable of the Force, who shall be disabled for further 'Service, by reason of Wounds or Injuries received in the actual Execution of his "duty."
'
This question we bave very fully considered and discussed, but in reporting the result of our deliberations, it is expedient to premise that the views now submitted are intended to refer prospectively, and not to the position of Members of the Police Force who by this time have become qualified to Retiring Pensions.
We consider that the Police Ordinance No. 9 of 1862 undoubtedly requires amend- ment, as we unanimously hold it to be prejudicial to the best interests of the Colony that any Member of the Police Force, though he may have done nothing actually to deserve dismissal, should by mere force of lengthened service be able ipso facto to claim a Pension which the Executive is unable to annul or modify in the event of any mal- practices being subsequently discovered.
We, therefore, would suggest that Section XII of the Ordinance mentioned be altered in such manner as would allow of no Pension to a Police Officer being granted except on approval by the Governor in Council.
And further, the same Authority should be able, at any time subsequent to the granting a Pension, to order its withdrawal should satisfactory proof be adduced of mal-practices on the part of the Pensioner during his term of Service.
The Pension should be at the rate already fixed, but in certain cases it may be deemed advisable to modify the amount or grant simply a Bonus or Passage money, and this power should be reserved to the Executive Council.
In making this suggestion, we have not lost sight of what has been put forward by some who maintain that, without holding out great inducements to good men to serve in the Colonial Police, a difficulty will occur in obtaining recruits.
We have had under examination European Constables of all ranks, and the conclusion drawn from our enquiries is, that men do not join the Police Force for the prospective advantage of a Retiring Pension, but solely with a view to improving their present condition.
It appears that in the Hongkong Police Force, but few join with any intention of remaining long in the Colony. If they be Sailors, as many of them are, their roving disposition induces them to enlist for a change only, and, if they be Soldiers, the
i
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