13031/10/45
00175
Perms. US. of S. Il rite
Party. U.S. of S.
Secretary of State.
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Ret.
CO 537/1262
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t your use of it may be subject to copyngh
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March, 1946.
I note from the minutes of the
34th meeting of the Committee of the Chiefs
that they invited the War Office
of
Staff,
to examine and report upon the military
implication of the continuance of military
government in Hong Kong after the 1st April, 1946 for a further period.
With the agreement of the War Office,
Sir Mark Young
we originally planned for
to return to Hong Kong about the middle of March to take over from Admiral Harcourt.
a
This date was deferred for a fortnight on the receipt of the telegram from the
C.-in-C., Hong Kong, representing that the target date for the hand-over to civil
administration should not be before the
31st March. The C.-in-C. subsequently telegraphed to the Chiefs of Staff
(IZ 956 of 18th February) saying that it had been agreed with the Director of Civil
Affairs, ar Office, who was then visiting Hong Kong, that the hand-over to civil government should take place on mid-night
March 31st/April 1st.
We were on the point of making an announcement, in agreement with the War Office, that Sir Mark Young would be
returning
N
00176
returning to Hong Kong to resume his appointment as Governor at the end of March, and that H.M. has approved of the extension of his term to enable him to complete a year's duty in the Colony from the date of his return, when we from the above minutes, that the Chiefs of Staff were still considering the date of the hand-over.
ваш,
You will, I know, appreciate the difficulties in which we are placed by the uncertainty which
In particular, exists in regard to this date.
no firm arrangements can be made for Sir Mark Young's passage. I hope, therefore, that you will not think
it unreasonable if, in the circumstances, I urge
that a very early decision should be taken on the question whether the period of military administration is to be extended beyond the
31st March.
L
c.m
Ref.
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
CO 537/1262
Please note that this copy is supplied subject in the National Archives
restrictions Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' lealle! bonal Archives' terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright
Page 915Page 916
e his appointment
"
and that H.M.
00176
f his term to
duty in the
urn, when we saw,
e Chiefs of Staff
of the hand-over.
ate the difficulties
ncertainty which
In particular,
e for Sir Mark Young's
at you will not think
umstances, I urge
ld be taken on
I of military
d beyond the
Please
Rela
CO 537/1262
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
restrictions Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' lasere
6 that this copy is supplied subject to the National Archives' terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copynghi