M.02700/38
sir,
18
CONFIDENTIAL
15th September
8.
I am commanded by My Lords Commissioners of
the Admiralty to acquaint you, for the information of the
Lords Commissioners of H.M.Treasury, that the annual
reports on the Hong Kong Naval Volunteer Force for
1936-7 and 1937-38, emphasised the fact that the training
of the force is handicapped by the lack of a small sea-
going vessel. In view of the importance of the force
for naval purposes in war, the Commander-in-Chief, China,
suggested that one of the Royal Naval Motor Torpedo
Boats shortly to be stationed at Hong Kong should be lent
to the Volunteer Force for training, but My Lords first
directed the Commander-in-Chief to suggest to the Governor
that the Colony should provide a suitable vessel for
training purposes as a charge to local funds.
2. The Commander-in-Chief has now reported
that financial considerations preclude the Hong Kong
Government from building or purchasing a vessel, and he
has proposed that an Admiralty trawler or other suitable
craft should be lent to the Colony for training.
3. The Admiralty have no trawler or other
suitable vessel surplus to requirements which could be
lent permanently to the Colony and My Lords have, therefore,
given consideration to the possibility of placing at the
disposal of the Naval Volunteer Force at suitable times
one of the three boom vessels which will shortly be
stationed at Hong Kong.
These vessels will be maintained
The Secretary,
H. M. Treasury,
9. W. 1.
DT/
in