CO537-(205_1260-1262) — Page 739

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1 of local concern only to Honz Kon-,

if not resolved, be referred to

This interpretation would be

duties and status laid down for the Malaya in para-raph 3 of the above

that the Colonial Office should be

heir concurrence or opinions on

r which a telegram should be

. accordingly.

I the Secretary to draw the

in of the Colonial Office to sents of the above telegram,

• with their interpretation bove, and to draft a telegram approval or comments of the

Office, the lines a resą

.scussion.

97

Annox I

2

Bet:

CO 537/1262

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

Please note that this copy is supation is given in the enclosed "Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' leafe

à subject to the National Archives' terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright

restrictions Further

00058

ANNEX I

Copy of a Minute (Reference: C.O.S, 851/6) dated 16th July, 1946, from the Secretary

Chiefs of Staff Committee to the Colonial office.

The Chiefs of Staff this morning considered the comments of the British Defence Committee, South East Asia sontained in SEACOS 727 about the position of the authorities in Hong Kong in referring matters of dispute between civil and Service authorities to either Singapore or London for decision.

2.

The Chiefs of Staff thought that any interpretation must be governed largely by the relative positions of the Gov rnors of Malaya and Hong Kong to each other and vis-a-vis the Colonial office.

3.

From the military point of view, as the Commanders of the three Services at Hong Kong are responsible to their respective Commanders-in-Chief, located, in the case of the Army and Royal Air Force at sin apore, and the Navy to C.-in-C., B.P.F., the Chiefs of Staff opinion is that arrango- ments could be governed by the following conditions:-

4.

(i)

In cases of dispute between civil and Service

authorities immediately affecting strategic issues concerning the South East Asia Zone, the matter would properly be the purview of the British Defence Committee, South East Asia and should he referred to them in the first place.

(ii) In cases of dispute between the Service and civil authorities on administrative or other subjects, which were solely the local concern of the colony of Hong Kong, the matter should be referred to London for decision.

The above interpretation would appear to be compatiblo. with the instructions issued to the Governor-General of Malaya (see paragraph 3 of SEACOS 727) and would meet the position of the military commanders in Hong Kong.

5.

If this proves acceptable to the Colonial Office, I have been instructed by the Chiefs of Staff to invite your approval or comments on the attached draft tologram in reply to SEACOS 727.

Enclosure.

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N

Ref.

Please note that this o

CO 537/1262

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

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7

N

restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives'

subject to the National Archives' terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright

leaflet