COPY
TOP SECRET
TOP SECRET CYPHER TELEGRAM
DESPATCHED BY 0.T.P.
OZ 1390 TOO 221949A
TOD 222320A
From: Ministry of Defence, London.
To : G.H.Q. Far East Land Forces.
COSSEA 691
22nd June 1949.
42
For FEDSEC for B.D.C.C. From Chiefs of Staff.
Reference COSSEA 690.
Following is text.
Directive to Lieutenant-General F.W. Festing, C.B., C.B.E., D.S.O.
This directive is issued to you in your capacity as Commander, British Forces, Hong Kong.
Task
2.
You are to defend the British Colony of Hong Kong, which includes the Leased Territories, and to assist the Governor in maintaining internal security.
You will therefore take such military action as you consider necessary to prepare against attack and, in consultation with the Governor, to maintain law and order. Should an attack on the Colony develop you will take all measures necessary to defeat it and restore the situation in the Colony.
Relationship with the Governor of Hong Kong.
3.
You will advise the Governor in all matters affecting defence of the Colony. You have been sent a copy of the instructions to the Governor further defining your relationship with him. You are to be guided by this instruction.
Command.
4. You are in operational command of the following forces:-
Local Naval forces based permanently at Hong Kong and such additional Naval forces as are assigned by the Commander-in-Chief, Far East Station for the defence of Hong Kong.
Land Forces based in Hong Kong.
Air Forces based in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Forces.
5. You will be responsible for the preparation of plans for the defence of Hong Kong and for the co-ordination of the training of all forces under your command for this purpose.
6.
Superior Authority. You are directly responsible to the Commanders-in-Chief Committee, Far East, and through them to the British Defence Co-ordination Committee Far East.
7. Service Commanders. In your capacity as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Hong Kong, you will be in direct command of the Land Forces in Hong Kong.
You will exercise command of Naval and Air Forces through
/Sen
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