CO129-429 - Public Offices & Others - 1915 — Page 428

Any further communication on this subject should be addressed to-

The Secretary,

War Office,

London, S.W.

and the following number quoted.

SECRET.

083/4880. (M.0.1.)

REC

C.O.

43936

AFGE 23 SEP 15

War Office,

426

London, S.W.

22 September 1915.

sir,

Gou

In reply to your letter 18176/1915, dated 6th. May 1915, relative to the control of the Hong Kong Volunteer Corps, during war time, I am commanded by the Army Council to acquaint you for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that this question came under the terms of reference of the joint departmental enquiry, which took place at the Colonial Office on the 6th. July. The Conference, however, touched more on the general question than on this particular subject.

The Council is of opinion that in its operation the Hong Kong Volunteer Ordinance has produced an anomalous position for the General Officer Commanding. In this connection I am to invite attention to page 64 of the Defence Scheme for Ceylon, proclamation of the Governor, and to the very different procedure there adopted for the delegation to the General Officer Commanding of authority to control the Volunteer Force. The subject is, however, as stated by His Excellency in paragraph 4 of his despatch

of the 11th. March, "an entirely academic one"; and the

Council consider that with good will on both sides, and some give and take, it is possible and desirable to work things as they stand. They suggest, therefore, that further consideration of the questions raised

might

Under Secretary of State for the Colonies,

Colonial Office, S.W.

at