CO537-(205_1260-1262) — Page 772

000 79

ice Commanders will be

tive Ministries in

ers-in-Chief;

the Royal

sible to the Commander-in-

the Army Commander to

ed Land Forces South

r Force Commander to the

Command, Bouth East Asia.

ility of the Supreme

B regarda priority for the

vil Affairs will remain

nt out that (i) Original

Forces would be Chairman of the

act as its agent in dealing

érvice matters was

d from principle that

have equal access to Governor

ted is one, that already

nd will, Chiefs of Staff hope,

ere.

to the new proposals from the

t8?

Grateful for earliest

Group Capt. D.C. Stapleton.

Ref:

CO 537/1262

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

N

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 copyright

Ref

CO 537/1262

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

N

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 la the National Archives' lerms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyrigh

L

& Brissue

(OTP) Salden Clare Draft Cypher Telegram,

00080

Leciphere da se 1/air +8m 1/OTP)

53.

For Cabinet Office' concurrence.

• 28/6 atmes

No. 411

SECRET.

To: (43)

Governor

Hong Kong

29 JUN 1946

29 mar

PL

su so my

Copy Li

2876

6/c Stopatm,

Catime offices Resive with 31/4

7.15hus.

28/6/46.

Calined Affray

auce (55)

ব

My telegram No. 156 Command of Services in Hong Kong. Chiefs of Staffs now propose following: Begins :

-

1. The three Service Commanders in Hong Kong be of equal status, local inter-service co-ordination being effected through an Inter Service Committee consisting of the three local commanders, It is not intended to appoint a Fortress Commander.

2. A Local Defence Committee under your Chairmanship should be established for the co-ordination of civil and service mettere in Hong Kong. The three Service Commanders serving on the Defence Committee will thus have equal right of access to you.

3.

Local disagreement between the 'ervices 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 Commanders-in-Chief and yourself. If it is not possible to reach agreement the question will have to be referred to London.

4. The individual Service Commanders will be responsible to their respective Ministries in London through their Commanders-in-Chief; The Royal Naval Comander being responsible to the Commander-in- Chief, British Pacific Fleet; the Army Commander to the Commander-in-Chief, Allied Land Forces South East Asia; and the Royal Air Force Commander to the Air Commander-in-Chief, Air Command, South East Asin. The administrative responsibility of the Supreme Commander, South East Asia as regards priority for the Army, Royal Air Force and Civil Affairs will remain unaltered. Ends.

Chiefs of Staff point out that (1) Original proposal

whereby G.U.C. Land Forces would be Chairman of the Inter-Service Committee and act us its agent in dealing

with the Governor on inter-service matters was

unjesirable since it departed from rinciple that

each local commander should have equal access to Governor (11) Organisation now suggested is one that already

has been adopted in Ceylon and will, Chiefs of Staff hope,

be accepted generally elsewhere.

> I see no objection to the new proposals from the

civil point of view.

view%

Have you any comments?

Grateful for earliest possible