TNAG-0190-FCO40-226-Title--Royal--conferred-on-Hong-Kong-police-and-auxiliary-po-1969 — Page 6

Vol. XX - No. 103

Friday, April 18, 1969

'ROYAL' TRIBUTE FOR OUR POLICE

HONGKON

ONGKONG'S Police and Auxiliary Police Force have been given the title “Royal” by the Queen, it was announced yesterday in the House of Commons by the Prime Minister Mr. Wilson.

Princess Alexandra has agreed to become honorary Commandant-General of the two forces.

of Police

and

the

The Commissioner Commandant of the Auxiliary have sent a message to the Queen and Princess Alexandra saying the forces "are deeply conscious of the honour.'

The Police Commissioner Mr. E.C. Eates said last night: "It is a very great honour to have this distinction conferred upon the force.

"Everyone is proud of the honour we have received and I would like to think that the community will share our feelings, because their support has been a vital factor in establishing our reputation as an efficient law enforcement body."

Mr. Wilson's announce- ment came in reply to Lieut.- Commander Lynch Maydon, a Conservative member, who said the appointment would give pleasure to Hongkong's loyal subjects both of British and Chinese stock.

Commander Maydon said the only other case of a police force being similarly honoured was that of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the famed Canadian "Mounties."

Mr. Wilson said he would not spoil the occasion by listing other røvel 2) police forces. There were one or two in the Caribbean area, he said.

Great spirit

He joined with Comman- der Maydon in welcoming the tribute to the great spirit, vigour and courage the Hong- kong force had shown in the severe difficulties of recent years.

Labour backbencher Mr. John Rankin said it seemed anomalous to confer the

royal title on the forces of a state which, he said, stood for everything British people re- jected. He claimed there was no popular representation in Hongkong.

Mr. Wilson said he would not accept this. He said Hongkong was а colonial territory living under con- tinuous pressure not only from the Communist Chinese but from "some extremely strange gentlemen" from Taiwan, who added to the unsettlement and insecurity.

"It is in this situation of double-threat and double- provocation and I think the Hongkong police forces have discharged their duties with singular integrity," the Prime Minister said.

Nang Kany

Standard

18 April 1469

RECEIVED IN

REGISTRY No.51

HKK14/8