Police-1957-1958 — Page 17

39. A total of 8,973 applications for the post of Constable were received and 679 recruits were appointed, of whom 154 had applied in 1956/57. The standard was high.

PROFESSIONAL EXAMINATIONS

40. Sub-Inspectors are normally required to pass examinations at an appropriate level in law and police duties, and overseas officers in Cantonese, before being confirmed in their appointments. At a later date they are required to pass similar examinations at a higher level in order to qualify for advancement to Inspector.

41. Gazetted Officers are required to pass examinations at a higher level in similar subjects during the course of their first five years resident service after appointment. Study for such professional examina- tions is undertaken in the officer's own time.

INITIAL TRAINING

42. Probationary Sub-Inspectors and recruit Constables on first appointment are posted to the Police Training School where they receive a six month, or in the case of women officers, a four month course of instruction. The syllabus covers a wide field and includes law and legal principles, court procedure, drill, physical training, first aid, local and general knowledge. Apart from women officers all are addi- tionally required to become proficient in the handling of various weapons and in riot drill. Overseas officers commence the study of Cantonese during this period and the recruit Constable is taught some simple English.

IN-SERVICE TRAINING

43. In addition to initial training the Police Training School provides advanced training for N.C.O.s and Constables, a Rank and File Cadet Course and the annual camp training of the Auxiliary Police. The very limited accommodation available continued to prove a severe handicap, in particular retarding the in-service training. It was not possible to hold any advanced training courses for the members of the inspectorate owing to severe overall shortage of staff.

44. The Rank and File Cadet Course referred to above is designed to enable outstanding members of the Rank and File to qualify for accelerated promotion. The course is of six months duration and is designed to develop powers of leadership, initiative and a sense of responsibility in addition to providing for the study of general police

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