MINUTE
sa
Taken over telephone
3/10/45 jb.
Addressed to: D.S.D.
1. Please see above listed telegrams.
2.
C. in C. Hong Kong as you know is directly under
as C-vi-l.
Chief of Staff, S. and under the War Office as head of
military administration. SACSEA is responsible for main-
tenance only of the Army, Airforces, and Military Administration
in Hong Kong.
3.
From the point of view of the Military Administration
as well as from that or the Colonial Office and of HG's prestige
generally in China and the Far East it is of the utmost importance
that such Civil Affairs staff as we have, and can make available
should be transported to Hong Kong at the earliest possible
}
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moment.
4.
You will see
(a) that Admiral Harcourt has stressed this in his
telegrams (la) 2a, (7a) and (8a) Coming from
9
Naval Commander,
8a suggesting the use of a destroyer is significant.
(b) There is already an accumulation of Civil Affairs
ज staff for Hong Kong held up in India for want of onward air
passage (5a and Sa)
(c)
That SACSEA (Mov. Tr.) psch sings for Hevements aptation (5a) and GHQ India (S.D.5)(6a, are suggesting
that further personnel should be sent out by fast sea direct
to Hong Kong
Comment:
This recommendation is all very well from the transportation
point of view, but the responsibility for ensuring that there is
either no breakdown in Hong Kong does not rest/with HQ India or
with SACSEA. The delay cors equent on the sending of Civil
Affairs personnel to Hong Kong by sea is not one which we
in the War Office nor I think one which the Chiefs of Staff,
-
to whom the matter must inevitably be referred by the C. in C.
Hong Kong if a satisfactory solution is not arrived at-can accept.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.