CO537-(205_1260-1262) — Page 857

00 138

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Ref.

CO 537/1262

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

Ind

restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of

note that this copy is supplied subject to the Nations! Archives' terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright

the appointment of Civil Governor and

t reduced status of the local command in

sider that it will no longer be propri:te

t this command should be directly

the Chiefs of Staff for the defence of tho view the individual services in Hong Kon tely responsible to their wn inistries onsider that this responsibility to Lanlon sed throu;h C.-in-0. 3.P.F. ALME and .net two nating in their British capacity. rnlers-in-Chief are elrendy responsible for ve suport of their respective forces in Pluntb.tten's administr:.tivo

aru rls priority for the ray, R....F.,

's would remain unalterod.

io: dvintres in having a channel f nasing through Comeniors-in-Chief who

o: sily consible to cach other r t the kiti n..LEGE and CS in their British

vc responsibilities in Hong Kong not shared Paul that these disadvantages can be

rt tor arrangement pending the puricetine comand in the Per Bast.

pronoments

reurt strongly advocates that, following:

he civil wernor, Fortress Comm:n tur ital to co-ordinate and contre 1 the

I activities of rll three services in Hou

3 to that the present G.0.0. Land Forces

the Cuties of Fortress Comendor.

rcourt's arguments in fevur of hia

s f 11 wo :-

sintaunt of single comartider who en

k on behalf of the three Services would be

vate in derling ith the Chinese, ticularly in respect of the difficult u ti n resulting from the use the wort

the transhipment T Chinese Arides.

ppointment of treas Conder would

ble responsibility to the Governor for all vice personnel at prenent emplyed on civil ics to be vested in a single allit..ry hority.

to the fred of the argumenta vmcel by tut vo e nailer that a stiof-etary

r.sunt military problems of Hon: Kong lithut the intront of loc 1 "mman .or.

Buch n paintment would ornflict fruynsibility : the imlividuel services,

difficulties between the F. rtrosa

ho 0.-in-C. 3.r.F., to who. the 0 waolore

be prim rily responsiblo.

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00139

Ref

CO 537/1262

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the National Archives' terms and conditions and that your u

N

if'il may be subject to copynght

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

11.

In our view the three local service comm.nders in Hong Kong should be of ugurl str.tus. Local inter-service co-ordination should be effected through an inter-service committee cnsisting of the three local commenders. consider that senior member of the civil administration should be included in the committee to assist in the co-ordination of matters in which both civil and military interests are involved.

12. Since G..C. Land forces has the ranfor responsibility for internal security in the Colony and for dealing with Chinese Military authorities, ve consider that under present conditions, he should be appointed Chairman of the Committo. This appointment should not however carry the title. of Fortress Comander. In this connecting it should be noted that the Chiefs of Staff have greed that liong Kong should not be organised for defence against un attack by a major power. consider that such shell scle operetions as might develop could adequately be diructed by the three Commenters reting jointly.

13.

*10

The arrangement ve prog se woul strengthen the hend of the G.0.0. Land forces in de lin: with the Chinese and would provide mechinery for on-ordinating the local activities of the three Services and for handling questions Peeting; both civil and military authorities, It would avoid the disadvantages of Fortress Commander

We to which we have referred in preph10 above. therefore prefer our proposal to that of Admiral Harcourt.

Relationship between the Services and the Governɔr

14. " consider that the Chairman of the inter-service Committee should set no its gent in derling with the Governor on mettura of an inter-service nature. Ench of the local co.anders should however have oqual right of nocess to the governor on matters peculiar to his own service.

15. Lol is growwnts between the Services would be

Conflicts referred to the Comm.nders-in-Chief concerne, between service rnd civil requirements, which annot be resolved loc:lly, woull be a matter for consultati în

If between the Cmanders-in-Chief rnd the Governor. these ruthorities are unable to reach reement, the question would have to be referred to London.

Long Term Arrangements.

16.

The organisation of command which we voerte abova is intended to meet conditions existing in Hong Kong at the present time. A revision of these arrangements may well prove desirable when the situr tin in ilong Kong has returned to normal, or when pencetime rgnisation of the higher command in the Far East has been decided.

hly 0.0.3.(46) 24th Meeting, Item 5.

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