CO537-(205_1260-1262) — Page 756

00069

A.M. Form 1700

(4807) WL. 40001-070823 1000m. (2 sorta) – 8/45 GAB C980

CYPHER MESSAGE

WARNING. This cypher message must first be paraphrased If It Is necessary to publish its text or to communicate It to persons outside British or United States Government Services and Departments. Messages marked "One-Time Pad" or “O.T.Pepe excepted from this rule.

KI.

12748

C.

From:-

Air Ministry London.

To:~

APX7890

(Doap. ACS 10th July 1946).

Air Headquarters Hong Kong, .C.S.E.4. Information S.A.C.S.E..

IMMEDIATE SECRET

13/21/20.

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

1 2

cm

Ref:

CO 537/1262

Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the National Archives'

N

restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' leshet. onditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright

APX7890 July 10th.

Sub joot, command of services in Hong Kong aftor rosumption of Civil

Governmunt.

Chiefs of Staff have reconsidered the command of services in Hong Kong in the light of a policy for the standardisation of civil and service co-ordination in the Colonies. They have agreed in consultation with the Colonial Office that arrangements in para 2 bolow will come into force forthwith. May 1946.

2.

3.

This signal supersedes paras 1 - 4 of our signal APX.6537, 10th

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

status, local inter-servico co-ordination boing effected through an inter-servico committee consisting of the three local commanders under the chairmanship of the Concral Officer Commanding land forces who has the major responsibility for internal security in the colony and for dealing with Chinese military military authoritics. He will not, however, bo "fortress commander".

A

(b) local Defence Committee under the chairmanship of the

Governor of Hong Kong should be established for the co-ordina- tion of civil and sorvico matters in Hong Kong. The three Service Commanders as monbors of the looal Defence Committee will thus have equal right of access to the Governor.

(o) Looal disagreements between the Services will be referred to

tho Commandors in Chiof concorned. Conflicts between Service and civil requiromonts which cannot be resolved locally will

be a matter for consultation between Commanders 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 Commandors will be responsible to their

rospective Ministries in London through their Commandors in Chief, the Royal Naval Commander being responsible to the Comandor in Chiof, British Pacific Ficet, the Army Commander to tho Commandor in Chief Alliod Land Forocs South East Asia and the Royal Air Force Commander to the Allied Air Commander in Chief Air Command South East Asia. Tho administrative rosponsibilities of the Supremo Commandor South East Asia as rogarda priority for the Army, Royal Air Force and Civil Affairs will romain unalterod. A.C.S.E‚‚1a responsibility for R.A.F. administrative support romeins unaltered.

Abovo arrangements have boon agrood by the Governor of Hong Kong. Similar instructions are boing signalled to the Naval and Army Commanders.

Про

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