CO537-5001 — Page 6

that the Civil Governor of Hong Kong should be replaced by a service Governor who would also be the operative Commander-in-Chief.

I have not myself had any conversation with General Ritchie on this matter. (This was intended to take place next Wednesday at the meeting of the Chiefs of Staff) but I have had some conversation with Mr. MacDonald as to the matters which could be regarded as "in dispute" between the Commanders-in-Chief and the Governor of Hong Kong. Mr. MacDonald told me that this conflict does not arise out of such matters as the wiring of the frontier which had been in issue some weeks ago. I understand that on this issue, General Ritchie has accepted the

Hong Kong view that the time is not yet ripe for this measure. Mr. MacDonald told me however, that, as he understood it, General Ritchie's view that the Civil Governor should be replaced by a Military Governor is based on the feeling that Sir A. Grantham has a fundamentally wrong approach to the question of the defence of Hong Kong and that he is predisposed to resist any proposals for any measures which are put forward by the military. We have for some time of course, been aware that Sir A. Grantham has felt very strongly that the Commanders-in-Chief in Singapore already have altogether too great a voice in what should be done in Hong Kong. (In this connection it will be recalled that he refused to establish a J.I.C. in Hong Kong, although he did in fact set up a Committee which was almost indistinguishable from such a body). When I was in Hong Kong in January, I suggested to him that his attitude on such a matter as the setting up of a J.I.0. was inevitably bound to give rise to a feeling on the part of the Commanders-in-Chief that he was not cooperating in these matters as whole-heartedly as he might even

Sacrificing his own principles,

We have been surprised to learn,even more recently, that he has been maintaining this attitude of "individualism" to the extent or declining to allow his Intelligence Committee in Hong Kong to correspond directly with the J.I.C. in Singapore, and insisting on all communications passing through the Commissioner-General's Office in Singapore.

It is therefore easy to understand General Ritchie's feeling that Sir A. Grantham is not being as cooperative as he might be.

But, to my mind, the Governor's despatch at No. 1 (and in particular his submission which I have quoted above) shows that the difference between his and the military authorities' approach to these matters is more fundamental than this might suggest. It is based in priaple disincmation to be uncooperative

rother (besture

On the other hand, the action now being taken (as to which see the telegrams at 9 and 10) to introduce forthwith a system of identity registration in the New Territories (as a police measure) and to go ahead with the consideration of a more elaborate system in the urban areas, seems to show the differences of approach are not irreconcilable. Indeed they are largely a

matter of timing.

But I am still doubtful whether it is possibl

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