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RECORD OF A DISCUSSION BETWEEN LIEUTENANT COLONEL L. M. TAYLOR (C.A.4 OF THE WAR OFFICE), MR. GENT. MR. PASKIN MISS RUS TON THE COLONIAL OFFICE) AND MR. MacDOUGALL, MR. ROWELL THE HONG KONG PLANNING UNIT) WHICH TOOK PLACE ON 18TH JULY, 1945.
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1. APPOINTMENT OF A REGULAR MILITARY OFFICER TO THE HONG KONG
UNIT.
COLONEL TAYLOR said that he had been giving considerable thought to the desirability of including regular military representation in the Unit. It had been found necessary in the case of the Borneo Unit and in addition to Colonel Rolleston such posts had been filled in Australia by Australians. He thought it would be preferable if, in the case of Hong Kong, this military strengthening could be included at an earlier stage. He had discussed the proposal with the D.C.A. and would now like to have the views of the Colonial Office. Colonel Taylor showed a rough plan of what he had in mind. It involved the appointment of a "Chief of Staff" or "Chief Staff Officer" who would hold the rank of Colonel and would be on a level with the Deputy Chief Civil Affairs Officer, both of whom would report to the C.C.A.0. The Chief Staff Officer would be responsible for A. and Q. sides, for commissioning members of the Unit, for contact with the War Office and, in the field, liaison with those military formations with whom the Unit will be working. The D.C.A.0. would still be responsible for recruitment and all political matters and matters connected with civil administration. The Chief of Staff might have under him about four assistant officers ranking possibly as Lieutenant Colonels.
IT WAS AGREED that such an appointment would be most helpful and that the sooner it could be made the better, in order that the officer selected could become "Civil affairs minded". Colonel Taylor will now obtain formal approval within the War Office and he will then send us the agreed plan showing the precise functions of the Chief Staff Officer and his position within the Unit (the draft of which he brought with him to the meeting).
2. RECRUITMENT OF STAFF TO FILL VACANCIES IN THE SUBORDINATE GRADES OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING SUCH OFFICERS POSTED TO THE HONG KONG CIVIL AFFAIRS UNIT IN NON-COMMISSIONED RANKS.
MR. MacDOUGALL said that if there were any danger that subordinate Officers, if enrolled as soldiers, would not be available to the Hong Kong Unit, they would prefer to have them aa civilians. COLONEL TAYLOR said that he thought it would be much better that they should be in uniform.
IT WAS AGREED that he would take up urgently within the War Office the two questions of (a) whether persons nominated by the Colonial Office could be enrolled as soldiers without going through the full military training, which might take too long, and (b) whether if such men were enrolled they could be guaranteed to the Hong Kong Civil Affairs Unit. MR. ROWELL said that he thought the number would be about 25.
3. THE PROVISION OF WOMEN CLERKS AND STENOGRAPHERS.
COLONEL TAYLOR said that the position had somewhat improved since we discussed the matter with the war Office last October. He thought now that there was some prospect that agreement might be obtained to the inclusion of a few A.T.S. in the Unit when it is militarised. He thought it would be in every
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