Copy.
M.0529/34.
Ong reid on 30793/34 Gene
Admiralty, S.W.1.
16th March, 1934.
Sir,
With reference to your letter No.13717/22/33
of 23rd February, transmitting for remarks a copy of
Hong Kong Ordinance No.30 of 1933 entitled "An Ordinance
to provide for the Establishment of a Naval Volunteer
Defence Force", I am commanded by My Lords Commissioners
of the Admiralty to acquaint you, for the information of
the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that there is
no indication whether or not a second ordinance
corresponding to the second model ordinance recently
agreed upon, is to be passed by the Legislative Council
of Hong Kong.
2. The position regarding the legislation required
in connection with the establishment of local R.N.V.R.
forces is, in My Lords opinion, unsatisfactory, aз is shown
in the present instance and also by the Straits
Settlements R.N.V.R. Ordinance, inasmuch as the matters
considered to be of vital importance by the Admiralty are
contained in the second model ordinance, and there is no
certainty that colonies which have established forces
will pass this ordinance.
3. My Lords incline to the opinion that the most
satisfactory solution of the problem would be to revert
to the proposal to include all requirements in one model
ordinance on the lines of the draft originally agreed upon
The Under Secretary of State,
Colonial Office,
S.W.1.
between