CO537-(205_1260-1262) — Page 821

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A.M. Form 1700

(4807) WL. 21-0/2022 1000m (3 sorta) 3/45 GSM. Gp830

CYPHER MESSAGE

WARNING.-This cypher message must first be paraphrased If it is necessary to publish Its text or to communicate it to persons outside British or United States Government Services and Departments. Messages marked "One-Time Pad" or "O.T.P." are excepted from this rule.

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FROM: A.. Ldn.

TO: H R... Hong Kong. A.C.3.E.4.

INFO: 3.4.C.S.E.A.

LMEDLE

APX.6537

SECRET.

10th May......

APX.6537.

(Despd. .M.C.S. 10th May.).

13031/16

Subject Command of Services in Hong Kong after resumption of Civil

Government.

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Chiefs of Staff have agreed in consultation with Colonial Office that following rosumption of civil goverment in Hong Kong it is no longer necessary that looal command should exercise direct

Local Service responsibility to Chiefs of Staff for defence of colony. Commanders will now be responsible through respective Commanders-in-Chief to Ministries in London.

Your chain of responsibility to ir Ministry is now therefore through air Commander. South East Asia acting in his British capacity. A.C.5.E...'s responsibility for administrative support and S.4.C.S.E.A's responsibilities as regards administrative priorities for Army R...F. and civil affaris in Hong Kong remain unaltered.

Chiefs of Staff and Colonial Office also agreed following:- Three local Commanders are to form inter-service committoo responsible to Governor on local matters. Committee to be responsible for local inter-service co-ordination. A senior member

of the advil administration will so included in with this Comittoo to assist in oo-ordination of matters in which both civil and military interests are involved, G.0.C. Laud Forces is to cot as Chairan of Committeu.

B. Chairman is to act as agent of committou in dealing with the

Governor on matters of an inter-sorvico naturo. Each of the thron Commanders will have equal rights of access to the Governor on matters peculiar to his own Service, Disagrooments butwoon the local Service Commanders which cannot be resolved loonlly are to be referred to the Commanders-in-Chief conourmod.

C. In cases where civil and litary requirements conflict and solution

oumnot be found by Governor and Oamandors-in-Chief concerned matters must be referred to departmt's concerned in London.

Above should be regarded as effective from 1st Miny 1946. Similar instructions are being signalled to Governor by Colonial Office and to Naval and Army Comandors by their om Ministries.

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Reference.C.S.E.. signal AEC.578 addressed ir Ministry only HS R....F. Hong Kong may now be renamed Air HS Hong Kong,

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11 MA: 1946

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Note. In the Interests of economy, both sides of this sheet should be used.

Ref.:

CO 537/1262

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

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