CO129-555-4 Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps- annual report 1934-5 6-8-1935 - 6-8-1935 — Page 37

2.

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Volunteers

GA

including as I pointed out in my Report last year, some 60 or 70 Government employees who have never undergone any

form of military training. Recent investigations have shown that

there are some 60 Government employees and about 400 civilian em- ployees (excluding serving volunteers and police, and reserves, etc.)

who are regarded by their Government Departmental heads, or by their

civilian employers, as dispensible from their normal duties in the

event of grave emergency.

4.

Until such time as the local Government realizes that not

a stone should be left unturned in the effort to induce every

British male of suitable age in the Colony to fit himself for its

defence and the essential point is that men in Government service

should give the lead that is expected of them to the rest of the

Colony it is doubtful whether recruiting of the Volunteer Corps

will improve.

--

5.

All other means to improve recruiting having failed, I

feel it my duty to recommend that a regular Commandant shall be

appointed. It is not that I wish to decry the services of Lieutenant-Colonel H.B.L. DOWBIGGIN, 0.B.E., and his predecessors;

far from it. But the role of the Corps in war · split up so as to reinforce and supplement the regular garrison where the units com- prising it are most in need of support dant, an officer who is familiar with the complicated organization and modern technique of the present day regular army.

C

necessitates, as Comman-

Moreoever, I have some reason to believe that recruitment

would improve under the supervision of a regular Commandant.

I am, therefore, recommending to His Excellency the

6.

Governor :-

(a)

That application be made through the Colonial Office for a regular Commandant to be appointed when Lieut-Colonel Dowbiggin completes his tenure (February

1938).

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