CO129-607-6 Police Department- Indian Section 11-1-1948 - 7-4-1949 — Page 27

File No. 9/1682/47c

No. 33.

SECRET

Sir,

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONG KONG,

17th August, 1948.

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Encl. I

I have the honour to forward herewith in accordance with Colonial Regulation 187, a petition, on the subject of the appli- cation of the Salaries Commission revised terms, from certain Indian ex-policemen who were retired on abolition of office early in 1948.

2. As you are aware, certain Indian policemen, by reason of their age or doubtful loyalty during the occupation, were not desired to return to the Colony for further duty after their repatriation to India at the end of the war; and it was eventually decided to take action against such persons by retiring them on abolition of office, since this step could be justified by the postwar reorganisation of the Police Force.

(32) on '46-47 fltel

3.

This course was reported to you in Sir Mark Young's secret telegram No. 1087 of 19.9.46 and Mr. MacDougall's secret despatch (68)... No. 20 of 6.6.47.

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Encl. II

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4. For various reasons, the retirement of many of the se officers was delayed until January 1948, when they were officially informed by Mr. Ujagar Singh, this Government's special representative in India, that they would be retired on abolition of office.

5. A petition dated 28.1.48, on similar terms to the petition now enclosed, and signed by some 70 ex-policemen, was received on the 16th February, 1948. The petitioners asked that the revised terms of salary in force in Hong Kong should be applied to policemen in India, and that their pensions should be computed on the revised basis. They also asked that an abolition factor should be included in their pensions.

6. In view of the fact that, for unavoidable reasons, these policemen had already enjoyed over 2 years leave on full pay, and at the same time had in no way suffered from the high cost of living in Hong Kong, which was the main basis for Salaries Revision, it was considered that there were no grounds for allowing them the benefit of revised salaries. I accordingly rejected the petition and now en- close for your information a copy of the Deputy Colonial Secretary's letter of 30.4.48, acquainting the petitioners with my decision.

7. I would advise that, if you see fit, a reply should be returned to the petitioners stating that their petition has been given due consideration but it is not considered that there is any reason to revise or modify the decisions given in the Deputy Colonial Secretary's letter of the 30th April, 1948.

REOLIVED

26 AUG 1948 0.0. kedY.

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

A. CREECH JONES, M.P.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient, humble servant,

Mhamun

GOVERNOR.

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