00 100
CO 537/1262
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the National Archives' terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyrigh
restrictions
Further information is given in the enclosed "Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives'
leaflet
n of Military Responsibility
iral Harcourt was Commander-in-Chief and ilitary Government ho commanded, in the
ty, the forcus of all three services stationed
, and was directly responsible to the Chiefs
its defonco. In his capacity as Hond of the nistration he was responsible to the
stato for War.
return of the Civil Governor it is no longer at the local command in Hong Kong should be nsible to the Chiefa of Staff for tho defence
In our view the individual services should responsible to their own Ministries in London dor-in-Chiof. B.1.F., ALPSEL and CSE, the
in their British coprcitics. These three -Chief are alrondy responsible for the
support of their respective forces in Hong
e arpentement, LFGR) and 103E. will have
.ca in Ion: Kong not shared by S.CSE.
Yo
vor, that this disadvantage should be accepted marren ument, since thoycystom wo ndvoonte
ith the lon: torm policy for command in the
this is brou ht into effect,
rran, uments
arcourt advoc:.ted strongly that a Fortress ld be appointed to co-ordinato and control of all three 3ervices in Hon; Kong. Hig
follows:-
ppointment of a sin le commander who could enk on behalf of the three Services would be
advantage in dealing with the Chinoso, rticularly in respect of the difficult tuation resulting from the use of the port r the trans-shipment of Chinese Armios,
appointment of a Fortress Commander would
blo responsibility to the Governor for all evice personnel at presunt employed on civil ties to be vested in a single military thority.
reurt'a pro, us:1 would conflict with the
18ibility of the individual services, particularly
thu Novy, Moreover, although we appreciate Larunonte nd that conditions in Hong Kong
turned to normal, we consider that no the standard ornisation referred to in
vo is nucosanry.
X J... (46) 59
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Ref.:
CO 537/1262
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
7
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restrictions Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' leaflet. Please 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
9.
In our opinion, therefore, inter-service co-ordination in Hong Kong should be effected through a committee of tho three loanl commanders. Since Gonoral Officer Commanding Land Forces na the major rusponsibility for internal security in the Colony and for de-lin: with Chinese military authorities, we consider that under present conditions ho should be appointed Chairmen of the Committoo. Ho will not, however, bo Fortress Commander, and the direction of any operations which may be required for the defence of the Colony will be undertaken jointly by the three survico Commandors,
10. Similarly, we consider that co-ordination of civil and service mattors should be effected by a Local Defence Committoe consisting of the local Service Commandere under tho Chairmanship of the Governor, In the event of a conflict between service and civil requirements which could not be resolved locally the question would be refurred to the Commen lurs-in-Chief for consultation with the Governor.
Conclusions
11. Wo conclule that:-
(a)
A Local Dufence Committoo, consisting of the
three local Service Commentors, should bo established under the Chairmanship of the Governor for "the cutoriinati a JT CIVII and "Bervice matters in Hont Konit.
(b) An Inter-service Committee, consisting of the
throo local commentore under the Chairmanship of the Guneral Officer Commentin.; Lend Forces, should be reapɔnsible for inter-service co-ordination in the Colony.
the
(c) There should not be a Partross Commandor;
diruction of any uporations for the defence of the Colony should be undertaken jointly by the three Service Commandera,
Recommendations
12. We recommend that:-
(a) the letter and draft tole ram to the Governor of Hong Kong at Annex be sent to the Colonial Office;
(b) when the concurrence of the Colonial Office has
been received to the terms of the draft telegram, the 3ervice Ministries be instructed to issue revised directives to their service Representatives.
Offices of the Cabinot and
Minister of Defence, S. 1.
25TH MAY, 1946.
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