CO129-557-7 Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps and Hong Kong Naval Volunteer Force- annual report 1935-6 22-6-1936 - 20-11-1936 — Page 40

2

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Increase.

75 Portuguese. 49 Eurasians.

25 Indians.

Decrease.

6 European British.

31 Chinese (and other nationalities).

Nett. Increase 174.

40

Great discrimination has been exercised in the selection of the

non-British recruits.

Moreover they are being trained for

specific duties to which they are particularly adaptable, and I

have no reason to lack confidence in their staunchness and

loyalty in the event of war. But the purely British strength

has decreased by 6. It is our failure to attract into the Corps.

the 300 400 British men of suitable age in the Colony - most of

whom have never undergone any military training whatsoever

which remains our chief local problem:

for these men will

probably constitute our only source of reinforcement in the

greatest of all emergencies.

4. At least half of these men are in Government Service.

On his arrival in Hong Kong in December 1935, His Excellency Sir Andrew Caldecott was faced by a despatch from the Secretary of State for the Colonies pointing out that the Overseas

Defence Committee wished:-

(a) all eligible European Government servants to be induced

to volunteer and make themselves efficient

and

(b) a Regular Commandant to be provided without delay.

5.

His Excellency promptly met the first of these require- ments by issuing a memorandum to all Government Departments,

copy of which is attached.

described as satisfactory.

a

The response to date can hardly be

Out of some 150 eligible British:-

7 have presented themselves for enrolment in the Naval

Volunteers.

24 have presented themselves for enrolment in the Defence

Corps (of whom 20 are European British).

His Excellency is showing the greatest possible personal interest in the welfare and efficiency of the Volunteer Forces and I have

little doubt that he will see what further and more effective

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