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Registry No.
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
Top Secret.
Seeret.
Confidential.
DRAFT
BACKGROUND NOTE
Type 1 +
From
To:-
Telephone No. & Ext.
Restricted.
Unclassified.
PRIVACY MARKING
..In Confidence
Department
DORMANT COMMISSION FOR THE COMMANDER BRITISH FORCES,
HONG KONG
1.
In June 1951, at the instance of the then
Governor of Hong Kong and with the agreement of the
War Office and the Chiefs of Staff, a Dormant Commission
was issued to the Commander British Forces, Hong Kong.
The Commission (a copy of which is attached), if and
when brought into operation, would appoint the Commander
British Forces as Governor and Commander-in-Chief of
the Colony. It was intended for use in the event of
an emergency and at a stage when it had become clear
that the situation in the Colony was such that the
Commander British Forces should assume overall command,
both civil and military. It was the intention that
when this stage had been reached the Governor should
leave Hong Kong.
2.
The Commission itself provided that it would come
into operation at a time to be appointed in writing
by the Commander British Forces, after consultation
with the Governor and with the prior approval of the
Secretary of State (for the Colonies). If in his
absolute discretion the Commander British Forces was
satisfied that it would not be practicable to obtain
the prior approval of the Secretary of State, the
Commission could be brought into operation at a time
TOP SECRET
/to be