CO537-(205_1260-1262) — Page 751

Copy to Colonial office.

M.01481/46

SECRET

000bb

12. July,

Ref:

CO 537/1262

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

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that this copy is supplied subject to the National Archives' terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject

The Commander in chief, British Pacific Fleet. The Commodore, Hong Kong.

I am to refer to Admiralty letter M.01481/46 of the 3rd May, setting out the arrangements for command of the three services in Hong Kong after the return of civil government and to acquaint you that these arrangements have now been revised as follows:-

Be

(a) The three Service Commanders in Hong Kong will be

of equal status. Local inter-service co-ordination will be effected through an Inter-service Committee

It is consisting of the three local commanders.

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not intended to appoint a Fortress Commander.

A Local Defence Committee, under the chairmanship of the Governor, will be established for the co-ordination

of service and civil matters in Hong Kong. The threa service commanders serving on the Defence Committee will have equal right of access to the Governor.

(c) Any local disagreement between the services will be referred to the Commanders-in-Chief concerned, Conflicts between service and civil requirements which cannot be resolved locally will be a matter for consultation between the Commander-in-Chief and the governor. If it is not possible to reach agreement, the question will have to be referred to London.

(d)

The individual Service Commanders will be responsible to their respective Ministries in London through their Commı ders-in-Chief; the R.N. Commander being responsible to the Commander-in-Chief, British Pacific Fleet, the rmy Commander to the Commander-in-Chief, Allied Land Forces, South East Asia, and the R.A.P. Commander to the Air Commander-in-Chief, Air Command, South East Asia. The administrative responsibility of the Supreme Commander, South East Asia, as regards priority for the Army, koyal Air Force and civil affairs, will remain unaltered.

I am to request that you will act in accordance with these revised arrangements to which the Colonial office and Governor, Hong Kong have agreed.

BY COMMAND OF THEIR LORDSHIPS

(SGD) W. MARSHALL

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