COPY
NOTE
TOP SECRET
Arrangements for the Admini etion of Hong Kong in the event of its lib yasion by Foguler Chinese
forces
1.
According to
At present Hong Kong is in the operational sphere of
Generalissimo Chiang Kai Shek whose Chief of staff is the American
General Wedemeyer. We therefore have to be prepared for the
contingency of the Colony being liberated by Chinese Forces
operating (virtually) under American direction.
information provided by the U.S. Chiefs of Staff to the British
Chiefs of Staff at Terminal, an offensive is contemplated by
American-trained Chinese forces in the direction of Canton and
Hong Kong in the fairly near future.
2.
Even assuming that the Chinese are prepared in such
circumstances to hand back Hong Kong to His Majesty's Government
it would nevertheless be embarrassing to have to receive it from
them. The question whether it is practicable for Hong Kong to be
recaptured by British (including Dominion) forces, or with the
participation in some degree of British forces, is one for the
appreciation of the Chiefs of staff. If neither course is practicabl
we shall have to accept the position.
3.
In that case it is, at all events, important that we
should be able to assume the administration of this British Colony
as soon as the military situation allows, and obtain an agreement
that from the outset of any initial period of military administration
our Civil Affairs policies should be accepted, and that the
Civil Affairs administration should be conducted by British
personnel.
4.
At present we have no understanding with the Chinese
Government (as we have with the U.S. Government) in respect
of their acceptance of British Civil Affairs policies in any British
territory included in their operational sphere. A most
See Annex.
embarrassing