54
CIVIL AFFAIRS ADMINISTRATION,
Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank Building,
Hong Kong.
REPORT
on
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION BRANCH.
12/10/45.
GENERAL.
1.
The overall situation in the Branch has improved con-
siderably since my last report, and the arrival of some of the staff has made it possible to make the beginnings of a proper organization. Progress on the legitimate work of the Branch has however, been slowed down to some extent, by the necessity to under- take work outside its proper sphere. This has been unavoidable in view of the shortage of personnel in other departments.
PERSONNEL.
2.
•
56.....
.Members on the Civil Affairs Staff have now arrived. This represents only about ten percent of our European Establishment, but the arrangement under which three members of the Civil Affairs Staff are given air passages each day from Colombo to Calcutta, is resulting in a slight increase in arrivals,
The absence of any staff for the internal Administration
Branch is felt, as it is hard to find personnel to deal with matters such as the distribution of N.A.A.F.I.
stores and individual requirements of officers.
ADMINISTRATION.
3.
It is not yet clear which higher formation is responsible
for our Administration, but a message which is being sent to S..A.C. may clear up this point. Meanwhile, H.Q. Allied Land Forces are assisting us when necessary in the administrative matters. In addition to the administration of C.A.S. personnel, the supervision of transport and quartering, and the arrangements for feeding non-Asiatic personnel in the Colony have been undertaken. These matters are dealt with below.
QUARTERING.
4.
Large requirements for accommodation, and the conflict
between the demands of the Services, made it necessary to appoint a Quartering Commandant with an Inter-Service Staff.
A census of all accommodation in the Colony is being made, and provided that the available accommodation is not used extravagantly, it should prove sufficient.