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TOP SECRET
D.
ANTI-BRITISH ACTIVITIES.
It would be a mistake to form a special organisation to deal with fifth column activities. The control and suppression of fifth column activities belongs properly to the Special Branch of the Police Force. It is one of their major concems in the event of hostilitics and they prepare themselves for this responsibility in the normal course of their peacetime duties.
E. COMMAND.
In the event of South East Asia boing a minor theatre of war the present set-up should suffice. In the event of it being a major theatre of war there should be a Supreme Commander.
F. COMMANDOS.
G. LABOUR.
No comments at this stage.
No comments at this stage.
H. ECONOMIC WARFARE.
It is suggested that the Aucleus of an organisation for the conduct of economic warfare already exists in Hong Kong in the Imports and Exports Department and the Exchange Control Office. The Exchange Controller has necessarily acquired a wide, dot.iled knowledge of all local firms of any importance and of their commerciel operations. Tith very fow additions to staff the present Exchange Control organisation could very easily work upon a brond policy directive from cither the central organisation at Singapore or London. It might be advantageous to send a liaison officer with knowledge of local conditions to join the ocntral organisation.
I. FINANCE.
J.
The financial arrangements of the last war so far as this colony was concerned were deplorable.
1.
2. The difficulty is to find an example where there has not been prolonged delay, frustration and ultimate resentment over the payment or refusal of civil claims.
3. There never was any clear policy decision rog.rding the incidence of cost between the United Kingdom Government and the Colony regarding war expenditure. The question evon now is barely cleared up and it has loft a fooling of dissatisfaction on all hands. No local body of opinion is satisfied that Hong Kong has had a fair deal.
4. There would be every advantage 11 setting up a local committee to formulate broad lines of policy calculated to avoid the indescrivable mess which grew up in the last war.
FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
K. INTELLIGENCE.
No comments at this stage.
A separate study is desirable and is in hand.
L. PUBLIC RELATIONS.
The civil Public Relations Officer should be in command of all publicity. He alone understands the impact of events on the population. Ho vill naturally be subject to security censorship but inside that limit he should dictate publicity policy. The service public relations officer s should be organised in support under him.
M. RATIONING.
The skeleton of the present rationing scheme should be preserved - cards, indices, etc. in storage.
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No comments yet.
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