CO537-(205_1260-1262) — Page 896

IMPEDITË

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Fr. Rowan.

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Ref.:

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

CO 537/1262

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rasinctions Further information is given in the enclosed "Terms and Conditions Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the National Archives terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives louflet.

HONG KONG

Thank you for your minute of the 14th March asking, on behalf of the Prime Minister, for my comments on the minute addressed to the Prime Minister on behalf of the Chiefs of Staff on the continuance of the military administration in Hong Kong after lat of April.

We are not, of course, in a position to assess the military reasons put forward by the Chiefs

There are, however, cogent of staff for an extension. reasons why, in our view, military administration should not be continued longer than is absolutely ne cossary. It is a form of administration, akin to martial law, which severely restricts the rights and privileges of the individual. It also adversely affects the future of the territory, inasmuch as a military administration la clearly not in a position to embark either on discussions leading up to constitutional advance (a matter of particular interest to the people of the Colony) or on the longer term measures of rehabilitation and reconstruction. measures are of first importance and urgency to the territory as a whole and should not be delayed a moment longer than is absolutely necessary.

Those

If it is considered that the considerations adduced in the minute addressed to the Prime Minister are such as to necessitate an extension of the period of military administration, we would strongly urge, for the reasons given above, that the period should be kept as short as possible and that it should not

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