CO129-266 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1895 [1-3] — Page 423

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that of a constatie in the Hong-Kong Police) at $20 + 36 = $58

per annum.

The pension of a first class constacle in the Hong-Kong

Police is tut $77.50 after 20 years and $62 after 15 years service

and is subject to considerable reduction according to the degree

of the man's character.

The difference therefore in the pensions of the two

Corps is inconsideracle.

I bave no hesitation in saying thut had I been aware

of the system of deferred pay in the Hong-Kong Regiment (the pay

and pension of which Corps I took as my standard of comparison)

I should not have made the recommendations for reduction that I

lid.

I have further to report to you that yesterday I offered

enlistment under the new conditions to four Indians who applied

for employment in the Police some months ago. They declined to

ealist under the new rates of pay. Their objection was that the

rates were too low.

In view of the fact therefore that the original argument:

in favour of reduction were based on a fallacy, and that the new

rates of pay will not teapt men to enlist in the Colony, I recom-

-end that the old rates of pay te reverted to.

There is no doubt at all that the new rates of pay

recommended by he would be ample, if the market was not spoiled

by the high rates of pay of the Hong-Kong Regisent and Asiatic

Artillery. But looking to those high rates I do not think it

would ce wise to reduce our pay to a point at which the compari-

-300 would be so much in favour of the Military pay as it would

te if the new rates are adhered to.

I have no doubt men could be enlisted in India at the

new rates, but I fear that they would te discontented when they

got here, and it is not at all improbable that the men already

in the force would jola them in endeavouring to force the hands

of