CO129-612-1 Police Department- petition from European memebers of Inspectorate 21-1-1947 - 17-2-1948 — Page 30

29

the Hong Kong Force, the Governor points out that

in their Home Service the majority were constables

and a few were sergeants, or acting sergeants.

The petitioners contend that when they

were interviewed for the Hong Kong appointments they

were given to believe that owing to various factors,

i.e. deaths, normal retirements and lack of

recruitment during the war years, few, if any, of the

pre-war members would be fit to resume duty.

is,

At the time of recruitment, that is just

before the end of the war, the position of the

Hong Kong Police gave rise to some concern and it

is reasonable to suppose, in the absence of evidence

to the contrary, that the petitioners may have been

led to believe that their prospects were better

have

than they since turned out to be. It is certain

that it was not until some time after their release

from internment that the decision was taken by

high authorities that the large proportion of the

original Force would be returning to duty. Their

Some

return must have caused at dimunition in the

prospects of those officers recruited from the Home

Forces. The Governor points out, however, that

after their arrival in Hong Kong the petitioners

were all graded as Sub-Inspectors, in conformity

with the policy of abolishing the grades of

constable and sergeant, and that it will take time

before the newly-appointed Sub-Inspectors are ready

thit to fulfil all the duties of their rank, but there

is no doubt that in the course of a few years they

will be holding fully responsible positions provided

they have the requisite ability.

ง

The Governor recommends that on point 2

the petitioners should be informed that "their

appointments in Hong Kong represent a regrading of

the ir

Page 30Page 31