CO129-565-7 Request for rifles for Hong Kong Police Reserve Force 21-10-1937 - 10-11-1937 — Page 6

Hong Kong Police Reserve.

(CHINESE COMPANY)

6

TELEPHONE No. 20788

G.E.J. Gent, Esqre.,

Colonial office, Dowing Street,

London, S.W.1.

Dear Mr. Gent,

HEADQUARTERS AND CLUB

PEDDER BUILDING, FIRST FLOOR

Hong Kong, 21st October, 1937.

I am

I arrived back in Hong Kong some little time ago after

having had a most enjoyable return voyage via Canada.

now settling down to do some solid work and am writing to thank

you for all that you have done for my father and myself during

our short stay in England. I am particularly obliged to you

for your kind promise of assistance in connection with the

desire of the Chinese Company of the Hong Kong Police Reserve to

obtain 10 Kifles. Before proceeding to explain to you the

circumstances attending this matter, I think I should give you

a brief history of the Chinese Company of the Police Reserve

Force.

In the year 1925, a state of emergency prevailed in

Hong Kong due to a large scale labour strike, and my father,

Dr. S.W. Ts'o, was appointed by the local Government as Chinese

Labour Controller. In addition to his duties of securing and

despatching labour for general services, my father organised a Chinese Special Constabulary with a view to helping the Regular

The labour trouble Police in maintaining peace and order. finally came to an end and the Chinese Special Constabulary

ceased to function.

After the bitter experience of 1925, the Government

decided that Hong Kong should have a permanent Reserve Force

My father to assist the Regular Police in case of emergency. was accordingly requested to organise a Chinese Company and

was appointed Honorary Commissioner.

In February 1927, the Chinese Company first came into

I took over existence and is still going strong at present.