CO537-(205_1260-1262) — Page 785

00090

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

Ref:

CO 537/1262

restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed

› note that this copy is supplied subject to the National Archives' (arma

and Conditions of supply of National Archives'

and that your use of it may be subject to copyright

safel

Military Responsibility

Harcourt was Commander-in-Chief and Head of nistration, he commanded, in the former ces of all three Services stationed in the directly responsible to the Chiefs of Staff f the Colony. In his capacity as Head of nistration he was responsible to the e for War.

he appointment of a Civil Governor and of duced status of the local command in sider that it is no longer appropriate or

is command should be directly responsible to

In our ff for the defence of the Colony.

al Services should be separately responsible

stries in London through Commander-in-Chiof

d ACSEA, the last two acting in their

18. These three Commanders-in-Chief are

le for the administrative support of their

in Hong Kong. The administrative

the Supreme Commander, South East Asia as for the Army, Royal Air Force and Civil emain unaltered.

arrangement, ALPSEA and ACSEA will have

in Hong Kong not shared by SACSEA.

We

r, that this disadvantage should be accepted arrangement, since the system we advocate

h the long-term policy for command in the has been proposed".

rangements

court advocated strongly that a Fortress

be appointed to co-ordinate and control the

1 three Services in Hong Kong.

His reasons

ointment of a single commander who could on behalf of the three Services would udvantage in dealing with the Chinese, cularly in respect of the difficult

tion resulting from the use of the port he trans-shipment of Chinese Armies.

ointment of a Fortress Commander would

e responsibility to the Governor for all .ce personnel at present employed on civil

8 to be vested in a single military brity.

'court's proposal would conflict with the chain y of the individual Services, particularly

the Navy. Ithough we approel to the force of

nd that conliti ns in Hong Kong have not yet

kl, wo consider that no departure from the sution refurred to in paragraph 3 above is the appointment of a Fortress Commander would

d.

* J..(46) 59

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00091

9. In our opinion, inter-service co-ordination of purely military matters in Hong Kong should be effected through a committoe of the three local commandors.

10.

Similarly, we considor that co-ordination of civil and Service matters should be uffectud by a Local Defence Committee under the Chairmanship of the Governor, with all three Service 6o.aiders as membors and with equal status in dealing with the Governor. In the event of a conflict between Service and civil requirements which could not be resolved locally the question would be referred to the Commanders-in-Chief, for consultation with the Governor.

Conclusions

11. We conclude that:-

(a) An Inter-service Co. mittee, consisting of

the three 1^o^l commanders, should be responsible for inter-service co-ordination of purely military matters in the Colony.

(b) A Local Defence Committee, should be established

under the Chairmanship of the Governor, with all three Service Ommanders as members having equal stutu. in dealing with him.

Recommendations

12.

We recommend that:-

(1)

the letter at Annex, covering a draft telugram

to the Governor of Hong Kong, bu sont to the Colonial Office.

(ii) whon the concurrence of the Colonial Office

has been received to the terms of the draft telegram, the Service Ministries be instructed to issue revised directives to their Service Representatives.

(Signed)

J.F.“ STEVENS J.I. N. FOETT J. H.

EDWARDS-JONES

offices of the gabinet, and

Minister of Defence, S.W.1.

31ST MAY, 1946.

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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.

i 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

Page 785Page 786

00091

pinion, inter-service co-ordination of purely rs in Hong Kong should be affected through

the thro luocl commanders.

y, we consider that co-ordination of civil tters should be effectud by a Local Defence r the Chairmanship of the Governor, with ice orders as members and with equal ing with the Governor. In the event of a

on Service and civil roquirements which could 1 locally the question would be referred to -in-Chief, for consultati m with the Governor.

ade that:-

Inter-service Comittee, consisting of he three loal commanders, should be

esponsible for inter-service co-ordination

f purely military matters in the Colony.

ocal Defence Committee, should be established

nder the Chairmanship of the Govornor, with

11 three Service Commanders as mumbers

ving equal statu, in dealing with him.

end that:-

lottur at Annex, covering a draft telegrum

o the governor of Hong Kong, bo sunt to

he Colo..1:1 017lce.

n the concurrence of the Colonial office

Es buen received to the terms of the draft ulegram, the Service Ministries be

nstructed to is.ue revised directives to hoir Service Representatives.

(Signed) J.F.* STEVENS

Cabinet, d Defence, S.W.1.

46.

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