CO537-(205_1260-1262) — Page 795

00096

ion inter-service co-ordination in Hong Kong sed through a committee of the three local Lnce General Officer Commanding Land Forces sponsibility for internal security in the lealing with Chinese military authorities, wo ider present conditions he should be appointed

Committou. He will not, however, be

¡er.

+

we consider that co-ordination of civil and should be effected by a Local Defence ting of the local Service Commanders under

of the Governor. In the event of a

■ Service and civil requirements which could

locally the question would be referred to the ief for consultation with the Governor.

that:-

Defence Committee, consisting of the local Service Commanders, should be lished under the Chairmanship of the nor for the co-ordination of civil ervice matters in Hong Kong.

r-service Committee, consisting of the

local commanders under the Chairmanship

General Officer Commanding Land Forces, d be responsible for inter-service dination in the Colony.

ȧ that:-

ter at Annox, covering a draft telegram

o Governor of Hong Kong, be sent to the ial Office;

concurrunce of the Colonial Office

con received to the terms of the draft ram, the Survice Ministrios be

ucted to issue revised diructives to

Service Represent: tives.

abinet and fence, S.W.1.

1946.

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THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

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Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the National Archives' arms and conditions and that your use of it may be subjec

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t to copyright

00097

ANNEX

COMEND OF THE SERVICES IN HONG KONG

Draft Letter to the Colonial Office

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

to the Secretary of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, enclosing a draft telegram to the Governor of Hong Kong informing hia of the arrangements for the command 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 separate letter ve have given further consideration to the arrangements for Hong Kong put forward in J.P.(46) 34,

We now feel which was forwarded to you on 17th April.

J.P.(46) 34, that the arrangement outlined in paragraph 14 of whereby the General Officer Commanding Land Forcos would act as agent of the Inter-Service Committee in dealing with the Governor on matters of an inter-service nature, would be undesirable in that it would depart from the principle that each of the local commanders should have equal 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 justifico a departure from the standard organisation which we are anxious to establish.

4.

We are therefore of the opinion that inter-service co-ordination should be undertaken by a committee of the three Service Commanders, and that civil and service co-ordination should be effected by means of a Local Defence Committee consisting of the Service Commanders

This arrangement under the Chairnship of the Governor.

is similar to that already in force in Ceylon.

5.

ile attach for your concurrence a draft telegram

to the Governor of Hong Kong, the terus of which are based on the organisation outlined in paragraph 4.

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soon as your agreement has been obtained, it is intended that the Service inistries shall issue revised directives to their Service Representatives.

* J.P.(46) 102 anex

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N

Ref.:

CO 537/1262

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

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

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