CO129-375 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [1-2] — Page 38

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to ong Kong of the new leave system which I have re- commended for the Malay Peninsula. The circumstances are entirely different. In the Peninsula We want to encourage men to take leave at short intervals both in their own interests and in those of the Government. In Hong Kong it is unnecessary to do this. A man does not need leave for reasons of health there, as it is quite easy for a man to spend his whole life in the Colony owing to the existence of seasons which are unknown in the Peninsula. The summer I understand is very hot though judging by the thermometrical statistics it

seems to be little if at all hotter than in Cyprus, but the Winter is cold enough for any reasonable being - it was far too cold for me. In these circumstances there is no reason at all why men should come on leave more then once in six or seven years just so as not to lose touch with Europe.

There is something to be said for the views expressed by Sir F. Lugard at the end of his despatch but on the whole I would make no change in the existing rules unless there is a general desire for it on the

part of the service.

!

One point which Sir F. Lugard has not dealt with in this despatch but which we discussed. is the

early position of the Police Officers referred to in paragraph 9 of 16016/1910.

The Deputy Superintendent and Assistant

Superintendent should certainly come out of the classifica tion. Now that we have a satisfactory system of re- cruiting and training Police Officers it would be absurd

to

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