CO129-607-5 Police Department- Indian Section 8-1-1946 - 15-9-1947 — Page 111

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The Indian Section of the

Hong Kong Police.

1. The pre-War establishment of the Indian section of the Hong Kong Police was 779 and the Ghelum area of the Punjab was the chief source of recruitment.

2. For the reasons given in the Governor's telegram, he wishes to abolish the Indian section, as it now

exists, and reconstitute it as a striking reserve. It will also be used for

manning the frontier posts in the

New Territories.

3. Under this arrangement the strength of the section will be reduced to about 300.

4. The Sikhs have not proved

satisfactory and the loyalty of some is doubtful and it is proposed that the re-organised section should in the main be made up of Muslims.

5. To avoid charges of discrimination against the Sikhs the Governor suggests that the whole contingent should be abolished and that the best of the men should be re-employed and the balance of the Force recruited from Muslims.

6.

We have not yet received the Governor's despatch referred to in his telegram and thus have not been able to examine his proposals in detail.

(Sgd.) B.D. EDMONDS.

25th September, 1946.