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Extract hom Catrina Conclusions 34(34)
from
HG KRG.
7.
Proposed Compulsory Service Ordinance.
F 6719
3 JUL 1939
ل
28th June 936
84
The Cabinet had under consideration a
Memorandum by the Secretary of State for the Colonies (C.P. 142 (39)) in which it was stated that the Governor of Hong-Kong, with the strong support of the Naval Commander-in-Chief and the General officer Commanding and the unanimous approval of the Executive Council, was anxious to enact as soon as possible legislation providing for the application of compulsory service to all medically fit male British subjects between the ages of 18 and 55 ordinarily resident in the Colony. The intention was, however, to call up under the measure only British subjects of European escent. With the exception of men in certain "key" employment, persons so called up would be allocated either to naval, military or air service, or to essential non-combatant defence duties.
The
volunteer forces in Hong-Kong were substantial and efficient but the local situation was such that adequate preparations to meet an emergency required the most complete arrangements for the training and allocation of all available British man-power in the Colony, The Admiralty and War Office strongly supported the proposed measure, and the Foreign office saw no objection to it in the present circumstances of the Far East. The Secretary of State therefore proposed, subject to the concurrence of his colleagues, to authorise the enactment of this measure in Hong-Kong without delay.
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