:
98
A good deal of consideration has, trefore,
been given on a departmental level to the possibility
of forestalling such a seizure by the formation of an
emergency group of British officers prepared with
dormant and temporary powers of Government who would
be as near the spot 3 possible, ready to go in if
the situation arose and to assume the responsibility
for the civil government until the arrival of the
regular Civil Affairs administration.
It is thought, that the nucleus of such a
unit is likely to be available in the British Army
id Group. Colonel Hide, the Officer-in-Charge of
the Group, who was previously on the staff of Hong
Kong University and has been in South Ching in
close touch with Hong Kong ever since his escape,
would seem to be the suitable person to lead such
an emergency administration.
It is thought that he
could