ENG-1946 — Page 119

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the New Territories. The reconstituted force was being shaped on lines rather different from the pre-war pattern.

It was decided before the re-occupation of the Colony to increase the responsibilities of the local Cantonese inspectorate and to make a start in training them. As a first step it was necessary to increase the establishment in order to have the requisite number to take over from the European inspectorate. The establishment was therefore increased from 44 posts to 87. At the same time it was the intention to reduce the total number of European non-gazetted ranks to a target figure of about 120, and although it was not possible to make this reduction immediately, as the force required training by and the supervision of trained officers, the rank of European ser- geant was abolished and a substantial reduction was made in the number of European non-gazetted officers. The conditions of the reorganisation and the very considerable increase in the responsibilities of the Police necessitated the creation of an additional 9 gazetted posts. While the overall establishment of the rank and file of the Force has been slightly increased, the proportions of the different contingents have been varied somewhat. Owing to the fact that training was suspended during the war years and to the absence of the Indian contin- gent on recuperative leave during the year, the effective strength of the Force has been only about three quarters of the authorized strength.

Progress by the End of 1946.

By the end of the year the Force was still more than 600 below the authorised establishment but most of the pre-war permanent personnel had resumed duty except the Indian con- tingent; all police duties had been taken over except the policing of the frontier area which was still in the hands of the troops, an arrangement likely to continue until the spring of 1947. It had been possible to withdraw the military detachments from several outlying islands where their pre- sence had previously been required to maintain law and order. Throughout the period under review the co-operation between Police and Services had been close and cordial, and the help given by the Services had formed a solid contribution to the establishment of such law and order as the Colony enjoyed at the end of the year. Hong Kong was particularly fortunate in having 3 Commando Brigade as part of the garrison throughout the period under review and the Police Force was greatly indebted to this formation and to other units of all three Services for much assistance very willingly given.

Types of Crime.

The year had not been easy, but the increase above normal of crime figures was less than might have been expect- ed; serious crime from 1st May, 1946, to 3rd December, 1946, showed an increase of 25% above the pre-war normal, the total