Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he proposes to issue any regulations to the effect that all British troops employed in Hong Kong, the Straits Settlements, and the Federated Malay States must be of pure European descent on both sides; and whether the special difficulties arising from racial conditions apply to the troops as well as to the civil and police forces in these countries?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Colonel Seely)The composition of the Imperial troops in Hong Kong and the Straits Settlements is a matter for the Army Council. No Imperial troops are stationed in the Federated Malay States. My hon. Friend appears to be confusing the question of officers with that of the rank and file. The police forces are not composed exclusively of Europeans, and the Secretary of State does not understand what he means by civil forces as distinct from police.
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked on what date the Colonial Office abandoned its previous practice of admitting British subjects not of pure European descent on both sides to appointments in the civil and police services of Hong Kong, the Straits Settlements, and the Federated Malay States; what changes were then made in the published regulations, and in what respect did they differ from the new regulations which have recently come into force; whether any announcement was made to Parliament of this change in Imperial policy; and whether any protests have been received?
§ Colonel SEELYThe regulation excluding candidates who were not of pure European descent from the examination for cadetships in the Civil Services of Hong Kong, the Straits Settlements, and the Federated Malay States, was made in 1904 and came into force at the 1386 examination held by the Civil Service Commissioners in August, 1905. Previously the regulations had required that candidates must be natural born British subjects. The present regulations differ from those in force since 1905 in that the expression "pure European descent on both sides" has been substituted for "European descent" in order to avoid any possible ambiguity. As regards candidates for the police forces, the regulation has been in force since the institution of the system of recruiting officers for those forces by open examination. The Secretary of State is not aware that any announcement was made to Parliament at the time or that any protests have been received.
§ Mr. JOHN WARDDo I understand that the effect of the regulations as recently altered is to make it now impossible for any native to apply for competitive examination?
§ Colonel SEELYThat only applies to the officers of these particular forces, not to the rank and file.
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTDo I not understand that these regulations apply to the whole of the police and civil services in these Colonies?
§ Colonel SEELYNo, Sir. It applies to the officers of these particular forces.
§ Colonel SEELYI was referring to the military forces. With regard to the civil services, if my hon. Friend will put down a question I will explain to him how far the regulations apply to the different classes.
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will publish Papers showing the evidence on which he has come to the conclusion that it is desirable to close the civil and police services in Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Federated Malay States to all British subjects who are not of pure European descent on both sides; and whether he will publish any correspondence on the subject?
§ Colonel SEELYThe Secretary of State does not consider that it would be practicable to publish any Papers on this subject.
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTIs this House to have no opportunity of forming an opinion as to a change which affects the status of about 350,000,000 of British subjects?
§ Colonel SEELYI will represent what my hon. Friend says to the Secretary of State.