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17. Pages 16 to 19.-In Chapter II (D), again, the information might be arranged with closer regard to the four sectional areas of command. The latter part of para- graph 7 would be more in place in Chapter II (C) (i).
Chapter III.--Action by Staff and Departments.
18. Page 21, paragraph 1.---This statement of the measures to be taken at the precautionary stage will now need revision to conform with the principles explained in the Colonial Defence Committee's Memorandum No. 330 M on the precautionary and war stages of Defence Schemes.
For example, the Q.F. guns and electric lights at Hong Kong will not be manned at this stage. The actual enforcement of the arrangements for the regulation of traffic and laying of mines would not normally take place, and should not therefore be included in the list of precautionary stage measures. The selection of the field works to be carried out at this stage will require local consideration.
19. Pages 22 and 23.-In paragraph 4 of the general orders, the officers in com- mand of sections and reserves might be identified by reference to the commands they hold in peace, as in Chapter II (A), or possibly their assumption of these war commands might be notified in orders in time of peace.
There is no indication in paragraph 8 as to the number of "special service officers" or the duties for which they are required.
20. Page 23, (C), paragraphs 2 and 5. Censorship.-In Mr. Lyttelton's Secret Circular despatches of the 13th and 22nd August, 1904, the Governor has received a copy of a printed Memorandum entitled "Censorship of Submarine Cables in Time of War," and has been requested to take action on the lines indicated in paragraphs 7, 8, and 10 thereof, if this has not already been done; and in War Office letter No. 63/18 I (3), dated the 26th August, 1904, the General Officer Commanding has received a copy of the same Memorandum and a packet containing the documents to be issued to the Censor at Hong Kong on the establishment of censorship.
As the rapid establishment of an efficient system of cable censorship throughout the Empire is a matter of great importance in the event of the outbreak of war with a maritime Power, it is desirable that the record in the Defence Scheme of the arrange- ments should be such as to ensure that a list of persons suitable for appointment to the censorship staff should be kept up to date; that the packet containing the documents to be issued to the Censor on the establishment of censorship should be kept ready for immediate issue when the necessity arises; and that detailed arrange- ments depending on the local conditions, such as the composition of the censorship staff, the allotment of office premises, and the relations of the Censor to other staff officers and officials, should be worked out, and revised at least annually.
The Colonial Defence Committee suggest therefore that a new Chapter III (CC), Action by the Censor, should be drawn up in the following form, with such modifications and amplifications as local circumstances may render desirable :—
:-
1. The Censor will be appointed by the Governor on the issue of a Notification by His Majesty's Government that cable censorship is to be established, or, in anticipation of the receipt of such Notification, at the war stage of the Defence Scheme.
2. The cable censorship staff* required at Hong Kong is estimated at one Censor, five Assistant Censors, and (when the use of codes is permitted) fourteen decoding clerks.
[As footnote.] A list of persons suitable for appointment to the censorship staff selected by the Governor, after conferring with the General Officer Commanding, is kept in the office of the D.A.Q.M.G., and was last revised on [date].
Where possible, the Censor should be a gentleman of naval or military experience, his assistants being officials or specially selected residents. All the Censors and decoding clerks should be British subjects by birth.
3. A packett containing the documents to be issued to the Censor on the establishment of cable censorship is kept ready for issue.
[As footnote.] This packet (received in W.O. letter No. 63/18 I (3), dated 26th August, 1904), containing the four documents specified on its printed envelope, and a copy of Chapter III (CC) of the Defence Scheme, is kept in the office of the D.A.Q.M.G., and was checked and compared with the Scheme revised to [date] by that officer on [date].
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