12 END
the emergencies which might arise in the course of a
Naval war and the temporary employment of such a force
away from its own waters might become 'desirable for the
more effective prosecution of the war and therefore
indirectly, but no less certainly, for the safety of the
Colony. And, although the need for so employing
I
Colonial naval forces may never arise, the knowledge
that they could be so employed would in itself tend to
hamper an enemy, while on the other hand he could not fail to profit from the opposite conviction that such
forces were tied irrevocably to their ports and that for
all operations not in the immediate vicinity of their
bases their existence-could be ignored.
7.
My Lords feel that with these considerations
before them the members of the Hong Kong Naval Volunteer
Force will not be less willing than members of similar
Forces in other Colonies to serve temporarily outside
the waters of the Colony if in an emergency that course
should in the general interest be desirable.
I
I am, Sir, I
{
i
Your obedient Servant,
JSBarnes
'I.