6
assuaging any Unofficial criticism to the effect
that it is not intended that any vessels or personnel
of the Hong Kong Force should be expected to be
offered to the Admiralty for service with the Royal
Navy at the other end of the world, but that the
powers to be sought are merely required in order to
remove any rigid restriction on the availability of
the Force in time of emergency for service in South
China waters neighbouring Hong Kong: and further to
enable the Admiralty sloop which is in use for
training by the Force to be maintained as a vessel of
war by the local Government.
There seems to me to be no question that
the passage of the second Ordinance would entail any
extra expense to the Colony and the objections in
paragraph 5 of the despatch, so far as there appears
to be substance in them, would, I suggest, be met if
an assurance from the Admiralty were forthcoming as
to the limited character of the extra-Colonial
liability which was contemplated.
? Send Admiralty a copy of the despatch with
a suggestion on these lines.
discussed huis
M. Geut
& I apie with
This is a
Su
with
Lure
his reggertum мудо
semble compromise
it will commend itself.
od Lepe it will
at once.
JtLega
3
Ja 10
Kent.
30710
aflis I had minutia
#Rlowell.
31