CO537-(205_1260-1262) — Page 686

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THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

CO 537/1262

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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 copynghi

1. I would prefer to leave in paragraph 2, which makes the telegram more complete, and also leads up to the point which I will make in para- graph 3 below.

2. I surest that the telegram should be repeated to Mr. Macdonald for his information.

3.

As I understand it, the instructions to the 3outh-East Asia Defence Committee at 113 on 13029/85/46, provide that Governors of the British territories in South-East Asia will be invited to attend the Committee's meetings when matters which affect their responsibilities are to be discussed and the Defence Comittee considers that their presence is desirable. I understand from

Mr. Subben-Clare, however, that this provision was not intended to apply to Hong Kong; but it seems very desirable that if a dispute between the civil and service authorities in Hong Kong were referred to the South-East Asia Defence Committee under para raph 3 (1) of Group-Captain stapleton's letter of the 16th of July, thẻ Governor of Hong Kong should have the right to attend or be ented which is normally provided for Governors under the Governor-General's aegis. I would suggest that a paragraph on the following lines should be inserted after paragraph 3 of the draft telegram and that the War office should be pressed to agree.

"14)

repres-

Constitution of 3outh-East Asia Defence Committee provides that the Governors of British territories in South-East Asia will be invited to attend or send representatives when matters affecting their responsibilities are to be discussed and the Defence Committee considers their presence desirable. It is agreed that this provision should be applied to Hong Kong in the event of a reference to the Defence Committee under 3 (1) above.

975

24th July, 1946.

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dapper with M. Heat and suggest.

That

draft should be amended acendingly.

My

257

5/5 afferere with addition hefored. I fav copce 4/1

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7.R

25.7.46