CO537-(205_1260-1262) — Page 909

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(6085) WI. 20912/5369 60m 10/45 C, & Co. 748(H)

THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT

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The circulation of this paper has been strictly limited.

It is issued for the personal use of

lol Chalmers. Co

Copy No.

58

C.0.3.(46) 73 (0)

12TH |_ACH, 1946.

CHIENS OF ST.

COITTEE

13031/11

NILITY IN LICTIONS OF THE COILUICE CO HILIT. RY

GOVEUSENT IN HONG KONG FREN 15T-RIL 1946 (revious Reference: 0.0.. (46) 34th it. Item 17 and

0.0.3.(46) 38th it. Item 14.)

Note by the nr Office.

"ilitary im lications" in their narrow senec

The direct military implications of a continuance of ilitary.dministration in Hon; Kong after 1st pril, 1946 are negligible, except that the expenses of the dministro- tion would fell to be covered by the or office instond of the Colonial budget. This will be embarrassing financially, 28 no provision has been made in Army Estimates for charge beyond 1st ifcrch, The asistance to be rendered by the Service .uthorities in the imac inte future will not materially 1ter whether there is a Civil ..dministration or a continuance of ilitary. dministration of the civil population.

2.

Military implicati ne in thei vider nspect

In their wider napect a continuance of ilitary dministration in Hong Kong would en that the military would take the onus for the retention of martial law in HONG KONG for the time being. The only justification for Military Administration, which is indistinguishable from martial law is military necessity, i.c.,

(n)

(b)

if the positiou na rords lw and order is so

precarious that the Civil Government cannot function, or

if the military requirements upon loel facilities, such as transportation, rro auch that they must

have over-riding cuthority of co-ordination. I

It is for the Chiefs of Stoff tsy whether either of those conditions exist.

-1-

Ref.:

CO 537/1262

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