COPY
SECRET
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GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
HONG KONG
26
1st May, 1939.
Page 186
Sir,
In continuation of my secret telegram of
May 1st I have the honour to forward to you four copies
of the draft bill discussed therein.
2.
The effect of the introduction into clause 3
(1) of the words "(b) members of the Hong Kong Volunteer
Defence Corps or the Hong Kong Naval Volunteer Force"
together with the material alteration of clause 11 is,
of course, very great. The bill which went to you under
my secret despatch of April 7th, 1938, followed closely
the lines of Ordinance No. 9 of 1918, which aimed at
service over-seas; had it been enacted it would have
seriously depleted the two volunteer forces above-mentioned.
The enclosed bill, on the other hand, has the defence of
this fortress as its sole objective and the additional man
power which it seeks to obtain will be incorporated into
the former.
3.
So far as reasons go for recommending this
legislation I do not think that I can add much that is
useful to the justifying phrase in my telegram which
stressed the fact that the essence of a successful defence
policy for Hong Kong is that it should be able to man all
its defences, such as they are, in the shortest possible
time. At the present time danger can only be expected
from one quarter and should this materialise the warning
period, if any, is likely to be very short.
4.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
MALCOLM MACDONALD, M.P.,
&C., &C., &c.
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