CO537-5001 — Page 56

Wt. 44925/140, 6om. 12/48. Wa. & Co. 51/3.

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

The circulation of this paper has been strictly limited.

It is issued for the personal use of

of

30.

Copy No...

9

May J. Packin

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SPECIAL CIRCULATION

CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE

CONFIDENTIAL ANNEX

to

C.0.S.(49) 84TH MEETING MINUTES

2.

(22)

HONG KONG COMMAND AND GOVERNMENT

(Previous Reference C.0.S. (49).83rd Meeting,

Min. 4, Confidential Annex)

+

Reference was made to a telegram for the Chiefs of Staff from Air Marshal Elliot in Hong Kong stating that the Minister of Dofence had held an interview with the Governor of Hong Kong, who had accepted the draft Directive, subject to the reservation that it "should specifically reserve his right of appeal in the last resort to the Secretary of State for the Colonies". similar telegram had been sent by the Minister of Defence to the Prime Minister asking his approval to the proposed amendment.

A

THE COMMITTEE were informed that this amendment had been cleared by the Vice Chief of the Imperial General Staff, on behalf of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, in consultation with Major General Festing and with the Colonial Office. The Colonial Office had subsequently referred this amendment to Mr. Malcolm MacDonald, who had wished to add the following sentence to the proposed amended paragraph:

"In the event of your appealing to the

Secretary of State, you should immediately inform the British Defence Co-ordination Committee.

This further amendment had also been cleared by the Vice Chief of the Imperial General Staff on behalf of the Chiefs of Staff Committee. The concurrence of the Prime Minister had then been obtained by telegram and the Minister of Defence had been informed accordingly.

THE COMMITTEE took note of the above.

+ I.Z. 1645

/ DEF 613

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, S.W.1.

9TH JUNE, 1949.

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