CO537-(205_1260-1262) — Page 804

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APPENDIX

Draft Telegram to Governor, Hong Kong

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

Ref..

CO 537/1262

Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the National Archives

restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' leaflet S terras and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyrigh

2

Ref.:

CO 537/1262

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

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

Please 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.

N

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 command of the three Services in Hong The Kong now that Civil Administration has been resumed. following procedure has been approved: -

(1) The three Service Commanders in Hong Kong will be of equal status, local inter-service co-ordination being effected through an Inter-Service Committee 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

He will not, dealing with Chinese Military Authorities. however, be "Fortress Commander", and the three Service Commanders acting jointly will direct any operations as required for the defence of the Colony.

(ii) A Local Defence Committee, under your Chairmanship, should be established for the co-ordination of civil and service matters in Hong Kong. The three Service Commanders serving on the Defence Committee will thus have equal right of access to you.

(iii)

Local disagreements between the Services will be

Conflicts referred to the Commanders-in-Chief concerned. between service and civil requirements which cannot be resolved locally will be a matter for consultation between

If it is not the Commanders-in-Chief and yourself. possible to reach agreement the question will have to be referred to London.

(iv) The individual Services Commanders will be responsible to their respective Ministries in London through their Commanders-in-Chief, the Royal Naval Commander being responsible to the Commander-in-Chief, British Pacific Fleet, the Army Commander to the Commander-in-Chief, Allied Land Forces South East Asia and the Royal Air Force Commander to the Air Commander-in-Chief, Air Command, South East Asia. The administrative responsibility of the Supreme Commander, South East Asia as regards priority for the Army, Royal Air Force and Civil Affairs, will remain unaltered.

2. Arrangements on the above lines have already been

As it was desirable for them to come. adopted in Ceylon.

that you would into operation at short notice and I assume have no objection, I agreed to their adoption in Hong Kong as from 1st June, 1946.

NIEX

ID OF THE SERVICES IN HONG KONG

it Lettur to the Colonial Office

to your minute 1301/10/16 of 13th May to the ho Chiefs of Staff Committoe, enclosing

on to the Governor of Hong Kong informing enomonts for the command of the three

hat Hon Kin; is undor Civil Administration.

ht of our proposals for the standardisation

ervice co-ordination in the Colonios act

ter # We have given further

to the arrangements for Hong Kong put forward

, which was forwarded to you on 17th April,

on of our viova. 'e now feel that the

tlined in paragraph 14 of J.1.(46) 34, whoreby ficer Commandin; Land Forces would not na agent crvice Committee in derlin; with the Governor an inter-service nature, would be undesirable 14 dopart from the principle that ench of the ra should have equal access to the Governor.

vo preciate that conditions in Hon; Kong eturned to normal, wo do not think that this A departure from the standard organisation nxious to establich.

hurufore of the opinion that intor-servico should be undertaken by a committee of the Jommanders, and that civil and service co-ordina-

offected by means of a Local Defence Committee the Servico Commanders under the Chairmanship

P. This arranjument is similar to that already and would provide equal access to the Governor Joevice Commandera,

for your concurrenco a draft telegram to the

Kong, the terms of which are based on the tlined in faparaph 4. As soon as your

been obtained, it is intended that the

rica shall iзauc roviçød directives to their

natives.

J.P.(46) 102 Annex.

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I have etc.

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