(3)
SECRET
Sir,
Aus: (C.
-14-23-
Mank
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
HONG KONG,
44 5
27th December, 1946.
I have the honour to refer to your secret despatch
No. 245 of 28th November, 1946, and to address you on the subject
of the Protected Places (Safety) Ordinance, 1946.
2.
I agree that the Ordinance, which was brought into
force by Proclamation on 9th December, 1946, should be repeated
as soon as the situation which it was designed to meet has improved
sufficiently to permit such a course and as you suggest I will
review the necessity for its continuance six months after the date
of its coming into operation.
3.
The risk of bodily injury to the population at large
is fully appreciated by the Heads of the Services and in order to
lessen that risk the General Officer Commanding is exploring, at
my request, the possibility of arming authorised guards with shot-
guns instead of rifles.
4.
I attach for your information copies of Gazette
Notification No. 559 and 540 of 21st October, 1940, which are Ŭrders
keeping in force Defence Regulation 52 and certain other Defence
Regulations.
х
5.
Consideration will be given to the question of amending
Section 4 (1) (b) (i) of the Ordinance if it is decided that the
Ordinance should continue in operation after I have reviewed the
situation in six months' time.
6.
The Heads of the Services had already agreed prior to
the receipt of your despatch under reference to issue instructions
to all authorised guards to challenge twice in all cases before
firing. The General Officer Commanding is of the opinion that
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
.,M.P.
A. CREECH, JONES, P.C., M.P.