APPRECIATION OF THE POLICE ORGANIZATION
OF THE 10TH OCTOBER, 1945
War Establishment
62
Police Branch
British Officers
British Inspectors
20 115
Arrived
9
5
Six internee Officers and sixty-eight Inspectors are still doing excellent work in Hong Kong, all must be released urgently.
1941
1945
Chinese Sub-Inspectors
43
Present
25
Cantonese Contingent
Approved
997
605
Weihaiwei Contingent Indian Contingent
Approved
292
11
144
Approved
790
11
438
The figures for the Chinese contingents change daily as additional men return to the Colony. The Chinese force has been supplemented by a hastily constituted force of some 1100 special constables. It has not been possible to select them carefully and a bad element has been introduced; their numbers bear no relations to requirements. They have not been sworn in,. They served a useful purpose in the beginning; steps are now being taken to regularize this force and to reduce it in order to conform
There are also Indian Guard s to the need of the present situation. and Watchmen on the payroll whose usefulness and trustworthiness are open to question.
The health of They are being sorted out. the Asiatic members is poor and a large proportion suffers from anaemia and mal-nutrition. A training school has been started and those attending are receiving a special diet under medical advice. Makeshift uniforms are being made. Records from Macau disclose
a grave degree of dishonesty among members of the Shantung Contin- gent who defrauded the Relief organization. The most important factor of the Hong Kong Police Force is lack of discipline; it is at its lowest ebb in the Indian Contingent.
The Finger- print Bureau has been started again, only 1000 of our former records have been found.
The Water Police with the help of the R. N. are recon- ditioning Japanese and one British launch suitable for inner harbour duties only. It is hoped to have four running with crews supple- mented by R.N. personnel in ten days time. Daily instead of piece- work rates are delaying work.
The Detective force is a questionable quantity. Notorious leaders of this force have been arrested and urgent inquiry is being made into the rank and file. Without the help of the Services which has been given whole-heartedly there would be no order.
The state of crime is unsatisfactory though at the moment not serious; as usually ex Police control has resulted in an increase of false reports. There are no Police in the New Territories neither North nor South except for a few Inspectors and Interpretors acting as guides and Liaison Officers. Commando troops are stationed in most villages. Arrangements have been made for the recruitment from the Commandos of some 10 other Ranks who have had Folice experience to assist charge room officers. Courts are functioning and there are 150 convicted criminals in Stanley prison. Cases have been submitted to the newly constituted War Activities Committee dealing with war crimes, Quislings and
the Commissioner is a Renegades and cases of improper behaviour; member of the Joint Intelligence Committee. No attempt is yet made to deal with minor offences. The large number of unoccupied and damaged houses has encouraged looting which has been further stimulated by shortage of firewood. Property looted during the last four years is scattered widely throughout the Colony. Secretariat and Accounting Branch of the Police has no European Officer compared with four in pre-war days. It is deluged with
The
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