CO537-(205_1260-1262) — Page 856

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RTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S 'GOVERNMENT

this paper has been sctly limited,

personal use of In George Gaten.

Copy No.

107

1101) Circulated for the concideration of the Chiefs of Stat

346,

CHIEFS OF ST..FF COMMITTEE

JOINT PLANNING SEFF

D OF VICES IN HONG KONG AFTER

SULPTION OF CIVIL COVERMENT

rt by the Joint Planning Staff

petion of instructions, we have examined a

Colonial Office concerning arrangements to commend of the three Services in Hong Kong

of the Civil Covernor.

eken into account the views of tho prosent of and lend of the Military Administration

the future command arrangements; these three telegrams to the Chiefs of Steff.

rringomenta

sont rrangements Admiral Harcourt is

of end end of the Military Administration.

na Commender-in-Chiof, he commands the

roo Services stationed in the Colony and is iblo to the Chiefs of Staff for its defonce.

ng Fond of tho Military Administration, he

o the Secretary of State for rr.

me Allied Commander, South East Asin, in

meeting the administrative requirements of A.F. ani Civil Affairs. The Commander-in-

cific Fleet, is responsible for the upport of naval foreca in Hong Kong.

f Ruoronsibility

aling with future arrangements for the

comml within Hong Kong, it is necessary future chain of military responsibility

London.

0.0.8. (46) 36.

3204

IZ 548 IZ 956 and IZ 967.

5217/68

R204.

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Ref:

CO 537/1262

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

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leaflet

6. In view of the appointment of a Civil Governor and of the cnsoquent reduced at..tus of the local command in Hong Kong we consider that it will no longer be appropri:.te or necesary that this command should be directly rosponsible to the Chiefs of Staff for the dofence of tho Colony. In our view the individual services in Hong Kong should be separately rosponsible to their own inistrios in London, Te omsider that this responsibility to London should be exercised through C.-in-C. 3.P.F. ALME! aml 1.C.B.D..., thu last two noting in their 3British capacity. These three Cumrnlers-in-Chief nro nlrondy responsible for the administrative support "f their respective forces in Hon; Hang Amiral unth:tten's administrative responsibility rurls priority for the Army, R.....F., and Civil Affairs would remain unaltered.

7. Where ro disrdventres in having a channel of responsibility passing through Commentors-in-Chief tho will not 11 he oily cessible to each other or t. the Gwerner. In addition ..LESE. and CSA in thoir British capacity will have responsibilities in Hong Kong not sharod by J.CJI. We feel that these disadvantages can be recentes short tori. Arrangemont pundin; the purcetime orgenis: tin of command in the Far East.

Looal Command Arrangements

8.

Adral Hereurt strmly advocates that, following the return of the civil governor, Fortress Comm.nur should be rppointed to co-ordinate and contr: 1 the requirements and activities of all three Services in our

He suests that the present G.0.0. Land Forces perfra the duties of Fortress Commander,

Kon;. shul

9.

iral Harcourt's arguments in fev ur of this

res fllwo :-

arrangement

(n) The my ointment of a single comrader who con

spork on behalf of the three Services would be an ravante in derling ith the Chines, particul.rly in respect of the ifficult situ ti n resulting from the use of the port for the transhipment Chinuae Armies.

(3) The appointment of Fortress Colamander would

unable responsibility to the Governor for all service personnel at present employ on civil

utics to he vested in a single milit:.ry uthority.

10. No pucite the free of the argumenta vanced by Admiral re urt but va ensilor that a 8.tisfetary solution to the present military problems of Hong Kong could be chieved without the point ont of a log 1 inter-service communer. Buch on appointment would conflict with the chain f responsibility the individul services, and ht lead to difficulties between the troo3 Commander and the C.-in-0. J.T.F., to whom the odore Hong kon must be primarily responsible.

-2-

CO 537/1262

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

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

that this copy is supplied subject to the National Archives' terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject i