CO129-584-8 Hong Kong Naval Volunteer Force 16-5-1940 - 5-4-1941 — Page 26

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I would like to record the invaluable services rendered by

Lieutenant-Commander R.J. Vernall 1st. Lieutenant, Lieutenant G. Merriman

Signal Officer, Lieutenant S.J. Swetland Minewatching Officer and

Chief Petty Officer So Tseung Man. These members showed great organising

ability and cheerfully carried out harassing duties over long hours in

the heat of the summer.

His Excellency the Governor's Appeal to Employers.

Early in September

His Excellency appealed through the Press to local employers

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"The outbreak of war between Britain and Germany has inevitably

imposed upon me the necessity of calling up a considerable number of

the members of the Hong Kong Naval Volunteer Force.

It is a very

regrettable fact that that process cannot yet be regarded as being ended.

"I wish in the first place to acknowledge both the ready alacrity

with which those who were called up turned out and the high sense of

public spitit of many of their employers who were seriously embarrassed

by the sudden depletion of their staffs.

"Secondly I appeal to all employers to undertake to take back into

their business the Volunteers thus called up as soon as they are released.

On 15th September,

The Effect upon the Civil Community of Mobilization.

by which time two mobilizations had been effected, there was evidence

that civilian employers might oppose further mobilization of members of

their staffs. During the summer months foreign firms have members of

their staffs on Home Leave. Further depletions might have a serious

effect. His Excellency the Governor appointed a Reference Board giving

the following terms of reference

"To consider and make recommendations upon applications by members

of the Hong Kong Naval Volunteer Force already mobilized for service or

not yet mobilized and by employers of any such members as to the conti.-

uance of service or as to the mobilization of any member as the case may

be." (Notifications Nos. 840 and 851 of 22nd September, 1939).

Thirty one appeals were received nine of which concerned members

the already mobilized. By mutual appreciation of needs of the service and

of commerce all appeals were satisfactorily settled without calling

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