No 3 on
54144/40(3)
TOP
SECRET.
تا
8
130032A August
+ Hag Office
Cry Naval
forces.
Br
To C. in C. B.P.F. DATE: 13.8.45
Info: C. in C. East Indies
NAVAL CYPHER (DD)
FROM: Admiralty.
IMPORTANT
Following is text of proclamation of British Military Administration of Hong Kong concerning which you will receive instructions in a further signal:-
-
Begins British Military Administration, Hong Kong,
A Proclamation to establish a Military Administration.
Whereas the forces of the enemy have surrendered to the forces of His Britannic Majesty and His Allies and whereas I (insert name and titles of Admiral Fraser)
am in supreme command of the Forces of His Britannic Majesty in the colony of Hong Kong now liberated by and under the control of those forces and whereas by reason of military necessity and for the prefention and suppression of disorder and the maintenance of public safety it is necessary to place the colony and the New Territories and its dependencies under a Military Administration pending the restoration of the Civil Government. Now I do hereby proclaim
Article 1
Establishment of a British Military Administration
A Military Administration, to be called the British Military Administration, is hereby established throughout the colony of Hong Kong.
· Article 2
Assumption of Powers and Jurisdiction
I hereby assume for myself and my successors full judicial, legislative, executive and administrative powers and responsibilities and exclusive jurisdiction over all persons and property throughout the Colony of Hong Kong.
Article 3
Existing Laws to be Respected
Subject to the provisions of any Proclamation, enactment or order of the British Military Administration and in so far as military exigencies permit:-
(a) all laws existing immediately prior to the Japanese occupation will be respected and administered;
(b) all rights and properties will be respected;. provided that rights and properties acquired or alleged to have been acquired during the period of Japanese occupation will be subject to investigation and to such action as justice may require.
/Article 4
Page
Page
Article 4
Revocation of Enactments by Japanese Authorities
All proclamations, enactments, orders and the like issued or made by or with the sanction of any Japanese authority during the period of Japanese occupation are hereby suspended unless and until expressly revived by authority of the British Military Administration.
Article 5
Suspension of Courts
All Courts and Tribunals (except Courts Martial held by virtue of any statute) other than Courts and Tribunals established by authority of the British Military Administration are. hereby suspended and deprived of all jurisdiction until authorised by the British Military Administration to reopen.
Article 6
Orders to be Obeyed
All persons shall obey promptly all Proclamation enactments and orders issued or made by or under the authority of the British Military Administration and must refrain from all acts which impede the Forces under my command from all acts of violence, and from any act likely to disturb public order in any way.
Article 7
Delegation
I hereby delegate to the Senior Officer for the time being Commanding Britannic Majesty's Forces in Hong Kong all the powers, responsibilities and jurisdiction assumed by me in relation to the colony of Hong Kong and empower him to delegate the same or any part thereof to any officer under his command and to authorise further delegation.
Article 8
Short Title
This Proclamation may be cited as the British Military Administration Proclamation.
this
Given under my hand at (insert place of Signature)
day of August, 1945 - Ends.
1st Lord
1st Sea Lord(3)
N.A. to D.F.S.L.
D.F.S.L.
V.C.N.S.
Sec.
A.C.N.S. (F)
P.A.S.?L)
P.A.S.(S)
D. of P. (2)
D.N.I. (4)
130032A P.A.S.(L).
D.O.D. (F) (2)
Hd. of M. (30) (for F.0. Mr. Sterndale Bennett
W
igadier Dove
at
age 9
age 9