00090
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Ref:
CO 537/1262
restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed
› note that this copy is supplied subject to the National Archives' (arma
and Conditions of supply of National Archives'
and that your use of it may be subject to copyright
safel
Military Responsibility
Harcourt was Commander-in-Chief and Head of nistration, he commanded, in the former ces of all three Services stationed in the directly responsible to the Chiefs of Staff f the Colony. In his capacity as Head of nistration he was responsible to the e for War.
he appointment of a Civil Governor and of duced status of the local command in sider that it is no longer appropriate or
is command should be directly responsible to
In our ff for the defence of the Colony.
al Services should be separately responsible
stries in London through Commander-in-Chiof
d ACSEA, the last two acting in their
18. These three Commanders-in-Chief are
le for the administrative support of their
in Hong Kong. The administrative
the Supreme Commander, South East Asia as for the Army, Royal Air Force and Civil emain unaltered.
arrangement, ALPSEA and ACSEA will have
in Hong Kong not shared by SACSEA.
We
r, that this disadvantage should be accepted arrangement, since the system we advocate
h the long-term policy for command in the has been proposed".
rangements
court advocated strongly that a Fortress
be appointed to co-ordinate and control the
1 three Services in Hong Kong.
His reasons
ointment of a single commander who could on behalf of the three Services would udvantage in dealing with the Chinese, cularly in respect of the difficult
tion resulting from the use of the port he trans-shipment of Chinese Armies.
ointment of a Fortress Commander would
e responsibility to the Governor for all .ce personnel at present employed on civil
8 to be vested in a single military brity.
'court's proposal would conflict with the chain y of the individual Services, particularly
the Navy. Ithough we approel to the force of
nd that conliti ns in Hong Kong have not yet
kl, wo consider that no departure from the sution refurred to in paragraph 3 above is the appointment of a Fortress Commander would
d.
* J..(46) 59
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00091
9. In our opinion, inter-service co-ordination of purely military matters in Hong Kong should be effected through a committoe of the three local commandors.
10.
Similarly, we considor that co-ordination of civil and Service matters should be uffectud by a Local Defence Committee under the Chairmanship of the Governor, with all three Service 6o.aiders as membors and with equal status in dealing with the Governor. In the event of a conflict between Service and civil requirements which could not be resolved locally the question would be referred to the Commanders-in-Chief, for consultation with the Governor.
Conclusions
11. We conclude that:-
(a) An Inter-service Co. mittee, consisting of
the three 1^o^l commanders, should be responsible for inter-service co-ordination of purely military matters in the Colony.
(b) A Local Defence Committee, should be established
under the Chairmanship of the Governor, with all three Service Ommanders as members having equal stutu. in dealing with him.
Recommendations
12.
We recommend that:-
(1)
the letter at Annex, covering a draft telugram
to the Governor of Hong Kong, bu sont to the Colonial Office.
(ii) whon the concurrence of the Colonial Office
has been received to the terms of the draft telegram, the Service Ministries be instructed to issue revised directives to their Service Representatives.
(Signed)
J.F.“ STEVENS J.I. N. FOETT J. H.
EDWARDS-JONES
offices of the gabinet, and
Minister of Defence, S.W.1.
31ST MAY, 1946.
-3-
Ref.:
CO 537/1262
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
N
restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' leaflet.
i note that this copy is supplied subject to the National Archives' terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright
Page 785Page 786
00091
pinion, inter-service co-ordination of purely rs in Hong Kong should be affected through
the thro luocl commanders.
y, we consider that co-ordination of civil tters should be effectud by a Local Defence r the Chairmanship of the Governor, with ice orders as members and with equal ing with the Governor. In the event of a
on Service and civil roquirements which could 1 locally the question would be referred to -in-Chief, for consultati m with the Governor.
ade that:-
Inter-service Comittee, consisting of he three loal commanders, should be
esponsible for inter-service co-ordination
f purely military matters in the Colony.
ocal Defence Committee, should be established
nder the Chairmanship of the Govornor, with
11 three Service Commanders as mumbers
ving equal statu, in dealing with him.
end that:-
lottur at Annex, covering a draft telegrum
o the governor of Hong Kong, bo sunt to
he Colo..1:1 017lce.
n the concurrence of the Colonial office
Es buen received to the terms of the draft ulegram, the Service Ministries be
nstructed to is.ue revised directives to hoir Service Representatives.
(Signed) J.F.* STEVENS
Cabinet, d Defence, S.W.1.
46.
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