CO537-(205_1260-1262) — Page 797

00097

ANNEX

ND OF THE SERVICES IN HONG KONG

Letter to the Colonial Office

00098

AFTENDIX

Draft Telegram to Governor, Hong Kong

Ref.

CO 537/1262

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

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

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

Ref.:

CO 537/1262

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

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

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

7

sir,

I have the honour to inform you that the Chiefs of Staff, in consultation with this office, have been considering the arrangements for the cousand of the three Services in Hong Kong now that Civil Administration has been resumed. The following procedure has been approved: -

(1) The three Service Commanders in Hong Kong will

be of equal status, local inter-service co-ordination being offected through an Inter ourrice Committed consisting of the three local commanders under the Chairmanship of the General Officer Commanding, Land Forces who has the major responsibility for internal security in the Colony and for dealing with Chinese Military Authorities. not, however, be "Fortross Commander",

He will

(ii) A Local Defence Committee, under your Chairmanship, should be established for the co-ordination

The threc of civil and service antters in Hong Kong. Service Commanders serving on the Dufence Committee will thus have equal right of access to you.

(iii) Local disagreements between the Services will be roferred to the Commanders-in-Chief concerned, Conflicts between service and civil requironents 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 agrcount the queation will have to be referred to London.

(iv) The individual Service Comma..ders will be responsible to their respective Ministrica in London through their Com.anders-ia-Chior, the Royal Naval Commander being responsible to the Commander-in-Chief, British Pacific Fleet, the ray Commander to the Commander-in-Chief, iliud Land Forces South East sin and the Royal Air Force Commander to the Air Commender-

The administrative in-Chief, Air Command, South East .sia. responsibility of the Supreme Commander, South East si as regards priority for the ry, Royal..ir Force andā Civil Affairs, will remia unaltered.

I have etc.

I

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

ry of the Chiefs of Staff Committee,

ift telegral to the Governor of liong Kong

of the arrangements for the command of the

now that Hong Kong is under Civil

ight of our proposals for the standardisation

ervice co-ordination in the Colonies set

ite lettere have given further consideration ients for long long put forward in J.P.(46) 34's

rded to you on 17th April. We now feel gement outlined in paragraph 14 of

J.P.(46) 34,

eral Officer Commanding Land Forces would f the Inter-Service Committee in dealing

or on matters of an intor-service nature, irable in that it would depart from the

each of the local comanders should have

the Governor.

1 ve appreciate that conditions in Hong yet returned to normal, we do not think

tion justifies a departure from the standard

ich we are anxious to establish.

therefore of the opinion that inter-service should be undertaken by a committee of the Commanders, and that civil and service should be effected by means of a Local tee consisting of the Service Commanders

rship of the Governor, This arrangemout that already in force in Ceylon.

ch for your concurrence a draft telegram

r of Hong Kong, the terus of which are rgenisation outlined in paragraph 4.

10

greement has been obtained, it is intended

ce Ministries shall issue revised directives ce Representatives.

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* J.P.(46) 102 ..nnex

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