CO537-(205_1260-1262) — Page 793

00095

Ref:

CO 537/1262

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

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I

of Military Responsibility

ral Harcourt was Commander-in-Chief and Head of dministration, he commanded, in the former forces of all three Services stationed in the as directly responsible to the Chiefs of Staff

e of the Colony. In his capacity as Head of dministration he was responsible to the itate for War.

f the appointment of a Civil Governor and of

reduced atatus of the local command in

consider that it is no longer appropriate or

this command should be directly responsible to

In our Staff for the defence of the Colony. idual Services should be separately responsible linistries in London through Commander-in-chief,

and ACSEA, the last two acting in their .ties. These three Commanders-in-Chief are isible for the administrative support of their

'ces in Hong Kong. The administrative

of the Supreme Commander, South East Asia as ty for the Army, Royal Air Force and Civil

I remain unaltered.

Ls arrangement, ALFSEA and ACSEA will have les in Hong Kong not shared by SACSEA.

We

ever, that this disadvantage should be accepted

m arrangement, since the system we advocate

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

Arrangements

Harcourt advocated strongly that a Fortress

uld be appointed to co-ordinate and control the His reasons all three Services in Hong Kong.

78:-

appointment of a single commander who could eak on behalf of the three Services would

an advantage in dealing with the Chinese, rticularly in respect of the difficult

tuation resulting from the use of the port r the trans-shipment of Chinese Armies.

appointment of a Fortress Commander would

able responsibility to the Governor for all rvice personnel at present employed on civil ties to be vested in a single military thority.

Harcourt's proposal would conflict with the chain lity of the individual Services, particularly f the Navy. Morcover, although we appreciate his arguments and that conditions in Hong Kong returned to normal, we consider that no departure dard organisation referred to in paragraph 3 ssary.

* J.P.(46) 59

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9. In our opinion inter-service co-ordination in Hong Kong should be effected through a committee of the three local commanders. Since General Officer Commanding Land Forces has the major responsibility for internal security in the Colony and for dealing with Chinose military authorities, we consider that under present conditions he should be appointed Chairman of the Committee. He will not, however, be Fortress Commander.

10. Similarly, we consider that co-ordination of civil and Service matters should be effected by a Local Defence Committee consisting of the local Service Commanders under the Chairmanship of 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) A Local Defence Committee, consisting of the

three local Service Commanders, should be established under the Chairmanship of the Governor for the co-ordination of civil and Service matters in Hong Kong.

(b) An Inter-scrvice Committee, consisting of the

three local commanders under the Chairmanship of the General Officer Commanding Land Forces, should be responsible for inter-service co-ordination in the Colony.

Recommendations

12.

We recommend that:-

(a) the letter at Annex, covering a draft telegram

to the Governor of Hong Kong, be sent to the Colonial Office;

(b) when the concurrence of the Colonial Office

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

Offices of the Cabinet and

Minister of Defence, S.W.1.

28TH MAY, 1946.

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CO 537/1262

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

N

se subject to copyright

restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives

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