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immediately following Mr. Sutcliffe's retirement. He expected that the latter would serve for at least three years as Commissioner before retiring and thus provide some continuity of command.
14. Mr. Macoun said that it would be difficult to find anyone better than Mr. Sutcliffe from outside Hong Kong. Mr. Marsden, formerly of the Nigeria Police, had set his sights on employment outside the police. Mr. R. Henry, Commis si oner of Police, Fiji, would be an excellent candidate but he had only a year ago entered
He was into a five year contract with the Government of Fiji. only 41 years of age and could therefore be considered in due course as a possible successor to Mr. Sutcliffe when the latter retired if Mr. Rolph was not regarded as suitable. It was agreed that Mr. Sutcliffe should be regarded as the successor to Mr. Eates.
15.
The Governor mentioned that it would very soon be necessary to transfer Mr. Slevin from the Special Branch in his own interests and give him experience in other spheres. His place in the Special Branch could be taken by Mr. Richardson but the latter would also need to be transferred in due course. The Hong Kong Special Branch was however self-supporting in this respect and no assistance would be required from elsewhere.
16.
PROPOSED ADDITION OF "ROYAL" TO THE TITLE OF THE
HONG KONG POLICE FORCE
17
The Governor had put forward this proposal simultaneously with a suggestion that a member of the Royal Family be asked to accept in an honorary capacity the post of Commandant General" (or some equivalent title) of the Hong Kong Police Force and Auxiliary Police Force. The Governor said that he would like an opportunity of reconsidering his first proposal if the second one came to nothing. He added that consideration was being given to the possibility of a visit by the Hong Kong Police Band to Britain in 1970. If his two proposals found favour it might be appropriate for them to be implemented immediately following such a visit.
17.
Since the Fijian Police Band also had plans for a visit in 1970 it was agreed that Mr. Macoun should write to the Cimmissioner of Police, Hong Kong, and make further enquiries about the timing of such a visit. It might be possible for it to be brought forward to 1969 if the necessary planning could be completed in time.
the
18. As soon as the necessary details had been obtained, Governor's proposals would need to form the subject of a submission to the Permanent Under Secretary with a view to an
The informal approach being made to Sir Michael Adeane. submission would need to cover the question of according the
the matter of an prefix "Royal" to the Hong Kong Police Force; approach to a member of the Royal Family to accept the post of "Commandant General" in an honorary capacity; and the timing of the implementation of these proposals in relation to any visit which the Hong Kong Police Band might pay to this country in 1969 or 1970. It was agreed that Princess Alexandra with her considerable Hong Kong associations would be an appropriate and popular Commandant General; and that an approach to Princess Margaret for the purpose would not be justified in view of the appointment's comparative lack of importance.
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