OUTLINE REPORT ON LIAISON AND GENERAL ADMINISTRATION 48 HOURS AFTER
ARRIVAL HONG KONG.
68
9th September, 1945.
Liaison.
Contact has been established with Chief Staff Officer to C in C, Senior Military Officer, Commander Kowloon and Group Captain Barker commanding R.A.F. Airfields Construction Unit. Personnel of the Government of Hong Kong released from internment have been most helpful.
ADMINISTRATION.
2.
Accommodation.
Office accomodation for the General Secretariat and Departments other than the Legal Branch, has been allotted in the Hong Kong Bank building. The Legal Department has suitable accommodation in the Supreme Court.
Temporary living accommodation for officers has been found in the Peninsula Hotel and investigations are proceeding to determine the most suitable living accommodation in Hong Kong with a view to the majority of personnel living on the island, which should prove more convenient. Accommodation is available in the Hong Kong Hotel, but it is thought that Gloucester Buildings may prove more suitable.
3.
Transport.
There is a mraked shortage of transport which is believed to be due, to some extent at least, to mal-distribution of captured vehicles. Departments have been asked to report their holdings and minimum require- ments of transport for immediate use The figures will be given to the Naval Staff as soon as they are available.
Transport captured from the Japanese is in very bad condition and the lack of spare parts renders its usefulness problematical. The only large holder of serviceable transport is the Airfield Construction Unit which has 200 two ton lorries.
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Recommendation.
It is suggested that in order to ensure that we obtain our minimum transport requirements, responsibility for Departments such as the P.W.D. should not be assumed until essential transport is made available.
5.
Personnel.
A speedy return to more normal conditions and efficient administration of the Colony is to a great extent dependent on the provision of officers and clerical personnel. The Civil Secretariat has kindly offered to do clerical work for our Secretariat as a temporary measure, and I am inter- viewing two clerks on 10th September with a view to engaging them, if satisfactory, on a temporary contract.
6. Summary.
From the administrative aspect the provision and of personnel and transport are the two essential factors to the rehabilitation of Hong Kong and the New Territories. It is suggested that a message on the following lines be sent to the War Office and repeated to HQ, S.A.C.S.E.A.
"Preliminary survey of conditions Hong Kong shews that early provision of staff and transport is essential to proper administration of Colony. Request that officer and clerical personnel be sent by air and that W.E. transport and workshop section be despatched earliest possible if not already in transit".
9. 9. 45.
(Sga) C. DELAMAIN, COL
D.D. (Admin) C,A.