CO537-(205_1260-1262) — Page 787

00092

ANNMA

COLLAND OF THE SERVICES IN HONG KONG

Draft Letter to the Colonial Office

We refer to your Linute 1301/10/46, of 13th May

to the Secretary of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, enclosing a draft telegram to the Governor of liong Kong informing him. of the arrangements for the .com.and of the three Services now that Hong Kong is under Civil Administration.

2.

In the light of our proposals for the standardisation of civil and Service co-ordination in the Colonies set out in a separato letter we have given further consideration

to the arrangements for liong Kong put forward in J.P.(46) 34, which was forwarded to you on 17th April. We now feel that the arrangement outlined la paragraph 14 of J.P.(46) 34, whereby the General Officer Commanding Land Forces would Du China of the Inter-Sorviel Comittuc, and act as its apunt in derling with the governor on patters of an inter- povico nuture, vrull bo uniesir.blo in that it would dej art ira the principle tit och of the loc: 1 c.anders should havu oquel access to the Governor.

3.

Although we appreciate that conditions in Hong Kong have not yet returned to normal, we do not think that the situation justifies a departure from the standard organisation which we are anxious to cutablish.

4.

We are therefore of the opinion that inter-service co-ordination should be undertalten by a committee of the three Service Commanders, and that civil and service co-ordination should be cffected by means of a Local Defence Committee consisting of the Service Commanders under the Chairunasilip of the Governor. This arrangement is similar to that already in forco in Ceylon.

5.

We attach for your concurrence a draft telegraa

to the Governor of Hong Long, the tons of which are based on the organis_tion outlined in paragraph 4. 1B soon as your grocent has been obtained, it is intended that the Survice Linistrles shall issue revised directives to their Service Representatives.

* J.P.(46) 102 nex

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