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at any rate of the Straits Police Cadets would have to learn the Amoy or Swatow dialects. Bearing in mind that the law in Hong- kong is not the same as in the other two Countries mentioned, it follows that it would not be conducive to efficiency to transfer Junior Officers between the three Countries for acting appointments; nor even for permanent appointments till they had served a considerable time in the Colonies or State for which they were originally trained.
I am of opinion therefore that the amalga- mation should be on the same lines as the amalgamation that exists between the Cadet Service proper of the three countries. That is to say that Police Cadets selected for any one of the three Countries as required should clearly understand that while they must, as a rule "look for promotion in that Colony or State they must clearly understand that they will be liable to be transferred at any time from one to another at the dis- cretion of the Secretary of State without being given compensa- tion for any special local privileges or allowances" (Vide regulations for Cadetships attached).
Speaking for Hongkong .I am of opinion that a Police Cadet after selection in London by competitive examination should be sent into the interior of China for 12 months to learn Cantonese, and that he should thereafter be sent to Lahore for 6 months to learn Hindustani and drill. If he succeeds in passing examinations of an approved standard in both languages he should then be eligible for a substantive appointment, but he should pursue under a graduated scheme his study of Cantonese and should be required to pass his final examination in that language two years after his return from .India. To encourage Officers in the study of both languages the allowances given for knowledge of Hindustani and Chinese set out in the attached regulations should be granted to Folice Officers in spite of the fact that they are required to study the languages under the terms of their appointments.
As to pay I think regulations 4 and 5 of the Cadet Scheme might be adopted. If the above scheme were adopted it would ha.pen that the Hongkong Force would be .increased by the addition of 1 Police Cadet.
Baving regard to the fact that it will rarely happen that the 4 Executive Officers of Police will be in the Colony for any length of time together, it would be most useful to have such an Officer to act for one of the Assistant Superintendents and even when all 4 Officers are with the Force there could be no better training for such an Officer than employing him with the Detective Staff.
(Sa.) F. B. May, Col.Secy.
5th. May, 1903.
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