CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922 — Page 238

MINUTES.

MINUTES NOT TO BE WRITTEN ON THIS SIDE:

Any further communication on this subject should be addressed to

A

Secre

The Secretary,

War Office,

London, S.W.,

and the following number quoted.

J83/5369. (M.0.3.)

Sir.

235

War Office,

London, S.W.

22 August, 1922.

2.

3.

5

With reference to your letter No.20132/1922 dated 25th May, 1922, enclosing a copy of a confidential despatch from the Governor of Hong Kong containing his report on the recent strike in that Colony, I am commanded by the Army Council to state, for the information of Mr. Secretary Churchill, that they have been equally impressed by the apparent helplessness of Hong Kong in the matter of labour and food in case of a recurrence of these disturbances, and that they fully recognise that the question does seriously affect the problem of the defence of Hong Kong in war time.

The Army Council incline to the opinion that, had the iate strike been prolonged, the deciding factor would eventually have been the difficulty of feeding the large local Chinese population, and that, without this factor, the European community could have held out and the strike would have collapsed. They do not consider that this factor is a military one, the solution of which would be a large increase of the Hong Kong garrison, since it would appear that no military measures however adequate in Hong Kong. would lessen the power of the Canton authorities, or of a political society such as the "Kwo Min Tang" to bring about such a situation by an organised strike as would confront the Hong Kong Government with the two alternatives of controlling a hungry and possibly riotous Chinese population, or of coming to terms with the organizers of the strike.

It seems not improbable that the next strike may be on a more extensive scale, especially as owing to their late success, the prestige and influence of the "Kwo Min Tang" must have greatly increased. The Colony is economically dependent on the mainland. and in the event of a war with a power other than the Chinese, it is possible that Hong Kong would be economically untenable if the Kwang tung province proved hostile.

The Council therefore hold the view that the best safeguard lies in political action with a view to establishing better relations between the Hong Kong Government and the Canton authorities. They would add that, so far as internal security is concerned, it seems most desirable that the Local Government should prepare a definite scheme under which the services of all Europeans could be utilised for the maintenance of vital public services, in oase of further strikes of a similar nature.

In view of the unsettled situation in Southern China the Army Council have had under consideration the question of increasing

Such increase to the the permanent regular garrison of Hong Kong • garrison cannot, however, be made until our military liabilities elsewhere have been reduced.

Under Secretary of State,

Colonial Office,

S.W.1.

I am.

Sir,

Your obedient servant,

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