CO537-(205_1260-1262) — Page 800

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TY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT">

is paper has been strictly limited.

ersonal use of

Col leḥalmen

THE

Copy No..

43

reliminary Draft)

00 100

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THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

Ret

CO 537/1262

o note that this copy is supplied subject to

to the National Archives

restrictions. Further

information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives s and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright

leaflet

N

External Chain of Military Responsibility

4.

When ..dmiral Harcourt was Commander-in-Chief and Head of the Military Government ho commandod, in the formor capacity, the forcos of all three services stationed in the Colony, and was directly responsible to tho Chiefs of Staff for its defenco, In his capacity na Hond of the Military Administration he was rosponsible to the Secretary of Stato for War.

5. With the return of the Civil Governor it is no longer appropriate that the local command in Hong Kong should be directly responsible to the Chiefs of Staff for the defonce of the Colony. In our view the individual servicos should be soparately responsible to their own Ministrica in London through Commander-in-Chiof., B...F., ALFSE' and CSE, the last two neting in their British crprcitios, Those three Commanders-in-Chief are alrondy responsible for the administrative support of their respective forces in Hong

Kong.

6. Under this arrangement, LFA and C3E. will have responsibilitics in Hong Kong not shared by S.CSE.. Ya consider, however, that this dianavento should be acceptod na a short-term arren oment, since the system we advocate will conform with the lon: torm policy for commend in the Far East, when this is brou ht into effect.

Local Commend Arran omenta

7. Admiral Harcourt advocated strongly that a Fortress Commandor should be appointed to co-ordinate and control the activities of all three 3ervices in Hong Kong. roasons vero as follows:-

8.

His

() The appointment of a sin le commander who could

speak on behalf of the three Services would be an advantage in donlin: with the Chinoso, particularly in respect of the difficult situation resulting from the use of the port for the trans-shipment of Chineso Armics.

(b) The appointment of a Fortress Commander would

enable responsibility to the Governor for all Service personnel at prosunt umployed on civil duties to bo vested in a single military authority.

Admiral Harcourt's proposal would conflict with the

chain of responsibility of the individual services, particularly

in the enso of the Navy, Moreover, although we appreciate

the force of his arguments and that conditions in Hon; Kong have not yet returned to normal, we consider that no departure from the standard orniantion referred to in paragraph 2 above is nucossary.

X J... (46) 59

12

CO 537/1262

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

ur use of it may be subject la copyright

note that this copy is supplied subject to the Nation Acted Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' leaflet

restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed

'S OF ST.FT COMMITTEE

NT LANNING STAFF

OF SERVICES IN HONG KONG

rt by the Joint Plannin · staff

cith instructions we have revised

rt- on the arran oments to be made for

e three services in Hong Kong after

Civil Governor.

n into account:-

wa expressed by the Chiefs of Staff;

from the Colonial Office;

telu rem from the Colonial Office to ivil Governor of Hong Kong;

we of Admiral Harcourt which are

ined in thruo telegram to the Chiefs aff.

o paper, which should he road in

this report, we have proposed that local

nta in 11 Colonial territories should be he follwin linos:-

ervice co-ordination should be effected by mittee of the local Service Commanders;

to the approval of the Colonial and

. Offices, co-ordination of local civil

ervice requiromente ahould be undertaken

er 1 Defence Committees under the

manship of the Hond Tolitical Representative

a Majesty's Government, in order that the

.co Commanters any enjoy equal rights of

Is to him;

round to examine below the particular

(46) 79th Mt. Item 5.

46) 34

(46) 36

inted under cover of 0.0.3.560/6

8,956 and 967

46) 102

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