00 108
Extract from Cos (46) 790 help - 17.5.46.
42
5.
COMMAND OF THE SERVICES IN HONG KONG AFTER THE RESUMPTION OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT
Ref.
CO 537/1262
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
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(Previous Reference: 0.0.8.(46) 61st Hta. Min. 3 é
73rd Mtx. Min. 5)
THE COMMITTEE he before them a minute by the Secretary covering a draft telegram prepared by the Colonial Office to the Governor of Hong Kong informing him of the military arrangements which would be put into effect on the turning over the military administration of the Colony to the civil authorities.
LORD CUNNINGHAM an12 he had no objecti na to the first three par.ruths I this telegrama, but the fourth raised a question of princi10. Apparently it had boun derided that the Chairman of the Inter-Services Committee would act as its Agent in dealing with the Governor on matters of an inter-services nature.
He had no objection to the Army Commander in Hong Kong assuming the Chairmanship of the Inter-Services Committee, but at the same time, cash of the local Commanders should have equal access to the Governor, There appeared to be an unnecessary divergency of practice in the establishment of the various Inter-Service and Defence Committee Organisations throughout the overseas territories. The situation of Hon Kong was analogous
to that of Malta. In his opinion, the organisation of the Higher Command machinery should be standard throughout the overseas territories, subject to any minor alterati ns made necessary by local conditions.
In the case of Hong Kong, it was for the Governor General to assume the Chairmanship of a Committee similar to a Defence Committee, with all three Service representatives as members and of equal status in dealing with the Governor General,
THE COMMITTEE were informed that the draft telegram prepared by the Colonial Office was based on decisions previously taken by the Chiefs of Staff when they had considered a report by the Joint Planning Staff. This report had formulated the Local Command arrangements and the relationship between the Services and the Governor after taking into account a letter from the Colonial Office and the views of the then Commander-in-Chief and Head of the Military Administration of the Colony. the Chiefs of Staff het approved this report, the Service Ministries had been asked to issue the necessary directives to their Service representatives, and this has been done
After
in the case of the War Office and the Aamiralty.
Subsequently, at a meeting of the Vice Chiefs of Staff, the War Office and the Air Ministry had stated they would have no objection to the Admiralty raising
the position of the Chairman of the Inter-Services Committee
in relation to the Governor, if they so wished.
+ COS.560/6
60S(46)61st Mtg. Min. 3 J(46)34
@ 60S (16)73rd Mtg. Min. 5
-5-
ว
Ref.
CO 537/1262
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
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