CO537-(205_1260-1262) — Page 837

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00125

1 1 MAY 1948

?

339

CIÓ. REGI

Permi. U.S. of S.

Parly. U.S. of S.

Secretary of State,

SECRET.

jor Nixon's signature.

Dear Stapleton

10 MAY 1948

ase refer to Sir George Gater's letter

51/10/46 of the 27th April, 1946.

We have

ived a copy of the instructions issued by the

ty to C in C. British Pacific Fleet and the

re Hong Kong concerning the command of the

in Hong Kong now that the Civil

tration has been resumed.

therefore' propose to send a despatch

Felling

Jovernor giving him the arrangements.

draft despatch is enclosed and I should be

1 if you would let me know whether you agree

terms de-s

944 i

onvenient.

4

Air

bo that we

has

Youne

17

ponvère.

Yours sincerely

(jd) EE..Sabben Glare

cma

Ref.

CO 537/1262

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

2

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

restrictions Further

00126

Mr Mayle

TOP SECRET

CIPHER TELEGRAM

This message will not be distributed outside British Government Departmenta or Headquarters or re-transmitted, even in olpher, without being paraphrased. (Messages marked O.T.P. need not be paraphrased.)

From The War Office

: COC Land Forces HONG KONG

C-in-C.L.F.S.E..

33

IMMEDIATE

RECIRCULATION

Desp. 080155 May 46.

DTO 071830

10 Desp. 080155 May 146.

Pat

CO 537/1262

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

Please note that this copy is suppled subject to the National Archives' ta

BURS

7

N

s and that your use of it may be subject to copyright

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

Info S.A.C.S.E..

C-in-C HONG KONG

56989 cipher (M.C.12). 7 May.

1.

11

TOP SECRET

Chiefs of Staff have recently approved the organisation of commund of Services in HONG KONG after resumption of civil government. The following paragrapho constitute the instructions in so far as they affect you, and are to come into force with effect from the date of resumption of civil government

May 1946).

The channel of command and responsibility for 2. Channel of Command. Army forces will be War Office, O-in-C ...L.F.8....., G.0.C. Land Forces HONG KONG. S.A.C.S.3.A.'a administrative responsibility as regards priority for the Army, R....F. and Civil ffairs will remain unaltered.

commanders The three local service Local Command .rrangements.

Local inter-Service co-ordination will be will be of equal status. effected through an inter-Service Committee consisting of the three

A senior member of the Civil Administration will be local Commanders. included in the Committee to assist in the co-ordination of matters in which both civil and military intereats are involved,

3.

Since G.0.0. Land Forces has the responsibility for internal security and for dealing with Chinese military authorities

he will be appointed Chairman of the Committee, but this appointment will not carry the title of Fortress Commander.

4.

Relationship between the Services and the Governor.

The Chairman

of the Inter-Service Committee will act as its agent in dealing with

Erch of the local the Governor on matters of an Inter-Service nature. Commanders will however have equal right of access to the Governor on matters peculiar to his own Service.

Local disagreements between the Services will be referred to the Commanders-in-Chief concerned (in the case of the Army C-in-C ...L.F.S.E...). Conflicts between Service and Civil requirements, which cannot be resolved locally, will be matter for consultation

If these authorities between the Command rs-in-Chief and the Governor.

are unable to reach agreement, the qucation will be referred to London.

5.

The above organisation of Command is intended to meet

revisiion of conditions existing in HONG KONG at the present time. these arrangements may prove d. sirable when the situation in the Colony has returned to normal, or when the peace-time organisation of the Higher Command in the Far East has been finally decided.

Separate instructions are being sent by the ..amiralty and Air Ministry to their Service Commanders in HONG KONG.

6.

C.6 (Telegrams)

/Copies to :

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