CO129-612-1 Police Department- petition from European memebers of Inspectorate 21-1-1947 - 17-2-1948 — Page 175

COPY.

Colonial Office,

Downing Street, S. 7.1.

October, 1945.

Note by the Secretary of State

For the Colonies.

172

1 understand that disappoinment has been expressed by members of the Government services of Malaya and Hong Kong who have been released From internment on the ground that arrangements have not been made for them to remain in or return immediately to their publice functions in the territory in order to help in the restoration of normal administration. 1 sincerely appreciate the public spirit of these officers and am most garteful for their desire at once to take up an active part in the administration.

In planning the liberation and rehabulitation of the Far Eastern Colonial territories it was necessary to provide fpr unknown contingencies and it was decided, for reasons which 1 am sure will be generally appreciated, that the only safe course was for the forces of liberation to be prepared to establish a Military Administration of the countries in order to ensure the basis of law and order and full powers to adjust any emergency conditions which might be found or might develop in an initial phase. Staffs were assembled and sent out in accordance with this plan and while it is a matter for real gratification that so many of the released personnel are ready and willing to resume duty in the near future 1 am sure that it is in the best interests, both of themselves and of the countries which they serve, that the initial phase should be carried out as planned and that they themselves should lose no time in obtaining rest and recuperation and of making contact once again with their families and friendsbefore they are called upon to return to tackle the vast and difficult reconstruction problems which will confront the civil administrations at the next phase.

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1 have heard that some officers are under some apprehension lest on account of their absence their interests may be prejudiced and lest they may find that in the meantime others may have secured the places which they might fairly have hoped to occupy. 1 can assure them that no grounds for such apprehension exist. All officers of the Government Services who are fit and able to return to duty after a holiday, will receive the full and sympathetic consideration which is due to them in the building up of the restored civil administrations.

G. H. Hall.