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IMPORTS & EXPORTS DEPARTMENT.
AUDIT DEPARTMENT.
The reductions recommended in paragraph 2 have been effected.
Whilst admitting that there are advantages in making every department watertight so far as its senior clerks are concerned, it is considered that the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. It would for instance involve practically duplicating senior clerical posts, in order to provide for leave and sickness contingencies. Senior clerks are, so far as is possible, left in the department for the work of which they are most suited, but the needs of the service as a whole must be considered more important than the wishes of individual departments.
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
Paragraph 2.-Government is not prepared to accept this recommendation at the present time.
At most it can undertake to consider the matter further when retire- ments take place. In view of the present disturbed state of South China and of the activities of communistic agents it would be unwise to effect any reduction in the executive of the Police Force.
Paragraphs 3-5.-Government prefers the proposition put forward by the Chairman to that of the Unofficial Members. The Inspector General of Police has gone carefully into the question as to how far section sergeants can be replaced, or rather reduced, as a result of the use of motor cycles. He finds that ten only can be so reduced. In the crowded central district of Victoria with its steep narrow streets it is not possible to use motor cycles, and in the Tsim Sha Tsui district the continuance of foot patrols is considered preferable. It should be noted that in no city in the world have foot patrols been supplanted by motor cycle police. It is solely in the interests of economy that Government is willing to give the scheme a trial.
The remainder of the recommendations of the Retrenchment Commission has been generally adopted.
PRISON DEPARTMENT.
Paragraph 1.-The Superintendent of Prisons has been instructed to visit Shanghai, Singapore and Taiping to ascertain at first hand how the prisons in those places are administered with an apparently much smaller staff than that of Hong Kong.
Paragraph 2.—The site for the gaol has been decided upon on the advice of a Committee specially appointed for the purpose To reopen the question now would only lead to further delay. It is hoped to commence the building next year.
Paragraph 3.-The Director of Public Works and the Superintendent of Prisons have been instructed in accordance with the recommendations contained in this paragraph.
Paragraph 4.-Government approves of the reduction of the European staff by ten. In view of the recent occurrences at Victoria Gaol it has however been considered advisable to spread this reduction over a period of two years. It has also been found necessary temporarily to increase the number of Indian warders by ten, in addition to the twenty here recommended. There
There are fifty Indian warders overdue twelve. months or more for leave, and there is no prospect of catching up with the arrears of leave unless these ten men are engaged.
Paragraph 5.-The Superintendent of Prisons is making arrangements to recruit his Indian staff in future through the Hong Kong Police direct from India.
Paragraph 6.-This has been adopted, and extended to the European Prison staff.
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