CO129-313 - Governor Sir Blake - 1902 [10-12] — Page 434

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or the Colonial Government and their repatriation is a

matter to be arranged between the War Office and

Indian Government.

4.

Indians for service in the Hong Kong police

force are enlisted locally, as a rule, though at times

it is necessary, owing to an insufficiency of local

applicants, to send to India for recruits.

5.

These men on the completion of their term of

service almost invariably return to India and live

there in the enjoyment of their pensions. Their return

however is not compulsory.

6.

Mach year however about 15 Indians are dismissed

Trom the Hong Kong police force The Government of the

Colony does not at present arrange for their repatria-

tion but, as a matter of fact, the greater part of

them do return to their native country, though some

few may seek and obtain employment in the Colony or

elsewhere.

7.

The only men therefore of the Hong Kong police

force whose repatriation we need consider are those

dismissed from the force; and the Government of the

Colony is in future prepared to bear the cost of their

repatriation should they be desirous of returning. I

question however it would be possible to compel them

even on dismissal from the force, to leave the Colony

in which they were originally enlisted.

8.

These dismissed men moreover are generally bad

characters and it is hardly to be expected that the

British Minister at Pekin would care to utilize their

services in China as suggested in theForeign Office

enclosure to your despatch under acknowledgment.