CO129-555-9 Colonial Naval Volunteer Forces 28-8-1935 - 6-11-1935 — Page 14

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maintained solely for the defence of the Colony.

There is ample evidence to show that from the start

of the negotiations there was no intention to

constitute a force for service other than the defence

of the Colony. It was not until the necessary steps

were being taken to give legal constitution to the

force that it was realized by this Government that

the term "Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve" was

inapplicable to the force proposed, and connoted

liabilities unsuited to the circumstances of this

Colony.

3.

The Force was therefore

constituted as the Hong Kong Naval Volunteer Defence

Force under Ordinance No. 30 of 1933 for the Naval

Defence of the Colony, no member being liable without

having previously volunteered or consented to do so

to serve or proceed on duty beyond the limits of the

Colony, its neighbouring waters and its sea approaches.

In view of the limited scope of the Force it was found

necessary to omit any reference to the Royal Naval

Volunteer Reserve. The Force thus constituted provides

the Force asked for by the Admiralty to supplement

the naval defences of the Colony.

4.

The Colony is now asked to change

the character of the Force into a true Royal Naval

Volunteer Reserve with liability for service outside

the Colony. Apart from the fact that such a Force

was never contemplated by the Government there are

certain very serious objections to this proposal.

In the first place the European

5.

man-power of the Colony is strictly limited and in

a serious emergency every available European will be