Note
DRAFT
Top Secret
Prime Minister
Arrangements for the Administration of Hong Kong in the event of its liberation by regular Chinese
forces
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.
According to 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.
Em
2. Assuming that the Chinese are prepared in such
circumstances to hand back Hong Kong to H.M.G. it would
nevertheless be embarrassing to have to receive it from them. The question whether it is practicable for Hong Kong to be
(including Dominion) recaptured by British/forces, or with the participation
in some degree of British forces, is one for the approval
of the Chiefs of Staff. If neither course is practicable
have
to
appreciation
we shall not be able to do otherwise than 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
x 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 embarrassing situation may therefore arise in the event
See Annex
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