CO129-577-10 Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps- provision of equipment for mobilisation 31-1-1939 - 9-5-1939 — Page 8

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of the supply of revolvers and a further

despatch will be addressed to you on this

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point in due course.

I have, etc.

(C) MALCOLM MacDONALD

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0.12

вород

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Se

SEEN BY

DEPT 3/3

No. 98.

Sir,

28 FLC 1939

53714137

3

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GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONG KONG,

13th February, 1939.

Ons (5

I have the honour to inform you that I have recently been in correspondence with the General Officer Commanding the British Troops in China on the subject of the provision of mobilization equipment for the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps. The matter had been discussed in correspondence between Sir W. Peel and Major-General Sandilands in 1931, when the Military Authorities put forward proposals under which mobilization stores for the Defence Corps were to be accumulated and held by the local Military Authorities at the expense of the Colonial Government. Owing to the financial stringency then existing the matter was left in abeyance and no definite understanding was reached as to the ultimate financial responsibility for any arrangement which might be made.

The matter was raised again by Major-General

Bartholomew in April, 1938, and has since been fully

discussed between the Colonial Government and the Military

Authorities. As a result of that discussion I do not

think that it is possible to dispute the principle that

it is the responsibility of the Colony to pay for the necessary reserve equipment required to meet the needs of

the Volunteer Defence Corps on mobilization. A list of

2.

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

MALCOLM MACDONALD, M.P.,

&C.

&C.,

&C.,

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2.

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the necessary stores has been drawn up by the Commandant

of the Corps in collaboration with the Military

Authorities and a copy is enclosed, showing the

quantities of the several articles which are required,

the quantities now held on charge and the quantities required to complete. It will be seen that the total

cost of the stores required to complete amounts to £15,638. 7. 21, or approximately $250,000. The arrangement contemplated is that these stores should be purchased and stored by the Military Authorities along

with other similar supplies required for the purposes of the Regular Army but should be issued to the Volunteer Defence Corps on mobilization.

3.

If it is agreed that payment for these stores is a liability of the Colonial Government I should prefer to meet that liability at once rather than to postpone it by seeking any arrangement for payment by instalments, since the Colony is not in any present difficulty as regards cash resources. I shall be glad, therefore, to have your approval to apply to the Legislative Council for a supplementary vote to cover the cost of these stores, to be paid for as soon as the full requirements have been obtained and placed in store at the disposal of

the Volunteer Defence Corps.

4.

A question has been raised as to the supply of

The Corps at present uses the .45 type of which the stores price is £4. 12. 6. plus freight etc.

revolvers.

which brings it up to about £5. 0. 0.

been given up by the Regular Army.

This type has now

It had been hoped at

one time that supplies might have been obtained from

revolvers seized by the Police and confiscated, but it

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