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4
TOP SECRET
FUTURE OPERATIONS IN CHINA.
Colonial Office views ref. J.P.(45) 200 (s) (". of R.)
1.
The Colonial Office interest in this operation is
that adequate arrangements should be made for the re-establishment,
under the operational control and direction of the Force Commander,
of British authority in civil affairs in Hong Kong immediately
on its recapture. This will involve the introduction into
Hong Kong of a British Civil Affairs Unit at the earliest
possible moment.
The nucleus of such a unit exists in the form of
a Hong Kong Planning Unit, at present on a civilian basis, which
is working in the Colonial Office. This unit is about to be
militarised.
2. The introduction of this Unit could be either (a)
by land (with the forces advancing from Fort Bayard) or (b) by sea (assuming that it is the intention for Allied Fleet units either
to take part in the operation or to enter Hong Kong at the
time of its recapture). of these alternatives the preferable
course would be (b).
3.
As to this, we have not at present any arrangements
with Chiang Kai Shek on the lines of Article 6 of the Charter of
the (Anglo-American) Combined Civil Affairs Committee. Even if
we are able to conclude such an agreement before the recapture
of Hong Kong, there might be practical difficulties with the
Chinese which might delay the arrival in Hong Kong of the British
Civil Affairs Unit. For these reasons the Colonial Office
would prefer arrangements to be made for the Unit to be
introduced into Hong Kong by sea. The task of successfully
achieving this may be expected to be simplified if British Naval
forces could be associated with the operation.
4./