CONFIDENTIAL
ANNEX A TO COS 2778 (Continued)
of Staff Committee. You are to exercise:
10.
a.
full command of permanently assigned land forces;
operational command of permanently assigned naval and air forces;
b.
C.
operational command of land forces reinforcements temporarily assigned to you from the time specified in the assignment instructions.
d. operational control of naval forces temporarily assigned to you as they enter your operational area;
e. operational control of air forces temporarily assigned to you from the time specified in the assignment instructions.
Operational command of naval and air forces which are or which may be assigned to you will normally be exercised
respectively by Captain-in-Charge Hong Kong and Commander Royal Air Force Hong Kong on your behalf. You are to issue directives to these officers, setting out their responsibilities to you for the operation of these forces.
11. In the event of a sudden operational emergency or natural disaster, you are empowered to assume operational control of non-assigned forces (except transport aircraft operating in the strategic role) which are within your Operational Area, reporting your action to CDS.
12. The Captain-in-Charge Hong Kong may be given responsibilities by the Commander-in-Chief Fleet involving the operational control of naval units outside your Operational
Area.
13. If you intend to be absent from Hong Kong for any length of time you are to inform CDS and arrange for the Deputy Commander British Forces to assume temporary command. If the Deputy Commander British Forces is not available, command will devolve upon the next most senior officer on station within
the chain of command.
A-3
CONFIDENTIAL