CO129-555-9 Colonial Naval Volunteer Forces 28-8-1935 - 6-11-1935 — Page 15

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required to man the defences and essential

services. If at such a time an important

part of this man-power were to be called elsewhere

as members of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve,

and in this connection it may be remarked that

the sudden withdrawal of only a few officers or

Cadets would disorganize the whole Hong Kong Naval

Volunteer Force, very grave concern would be

caused to those responsible for the Colony's

defence.

Secondly it is open to

question whether there would be the same response

to the call for Volunteers if it were known that

the joining of the Force involved liability for

service outside local waters.

Thirdly the Legislature has

provided funds for a local force for local defence

and I have grave doubts whether it would be possible,

except by the use of the official vote, to obtain

the provision of funds for a Force with extended

liability.

Fourthly the present Force

provides the local assistance for which the Naval

Authorities have been pressing and is as much

as the Colony can afford in the present financial

stringency.

6.

The matter was fully discussed

at a meeting of the Local Defence Committee on

19th August last and this Committee, of which

the General Officer Commanding and Commodore-in-

Charge are members, unanimously advised that the

further Ordinance on the second model referred to