be the intention that in time of emergency the force should be placed at His Majesty's disposal under Section 6 and 7 of the Act of 1865 as adapted by the Act of 1909. In time of peace, however, the force would be administered by the Hong Kong Government and the personnel of the force would be responsible to the Hong Kong Government alone.
My Lords suggest that a suitable title for the foros. would be the Hong Kong Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.
MATERIEL.
The type of vessel proposed by the Governor is the Insect class gunboat but My Lords regret that none of these vessels are available for loan to the Hong Kong Goverment. Subject, however, to the necessary financial sanction being forthcoming, The ir Lordships would be prepared to present to the Hong Kong Government, a Twin Screw Mine sweeper, in all respects ready for service, and to send her out to Hong Kong at the expense of the Admiralty, on the following conditions:
(A) The Hong Kong Goverment to be responsible to the
Admiralty that the vessel is kept ready for immediat service in war, and to allow her to be inspected at suitable intervals by the Commander-in-Chief on the China Station, or by his representative, to verify that she is being kept fit for such Service.
(B)
Government
The Hong Kong to agree to retransfer to the Admiral the ownership and possession of the vessel in time emergency or if circumstances should in the opinion of the Admiralty render it no longer expedient to ke the vessel at Hong Kong, or if and when she is no longer fit for effective service.
L
(0).....
220
(C) The Hong Kong Goverment not to be liable to
replace the vessel in the event of total los or to repair her in the event of damage so to an extent which in the opinion of the Admiralty renders her incapable of economic repair,
Any special accommodation required for the volunteers to be provided at the cost of the Hong Kong Government on arrival at Hong Kong. An estimate of the annual cost of maintaining the vessel is contained in Appendix A.
PERSONNEL.
The Governor of Hong Kong having expressed his readiness to accept the offer of Commander Hartford to organise and take command of the new force, My Lords are pleased to approve of Commander Hartford accepting the appointment. He should in due course receive a commission in the Hong Kong R.N.V.R. from the Governor of the Colony.
Their Lordships are also pleased to approve as a special case of Commander Hartford's request that he should be appointed to H.M.S."TAMAR" additional (for time only) for service with the Hong
Kong.
DOM Z
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.