CO129-591-11 Emergency unit 1-1-1945 - 31-12-1945 — Page 105

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or commander of irregular bands for the purpose of

loot or glory. If such a coup by Chinese were successful

it seems probable that it would receive the support of

Chungking and thus when we wished to establish our own

British administration a situation of considerable political

embarrassment would result.

A good deal of consideration has, therefore, been given

on a departmental level to the possibility of forestalling

such a seizure by the formation of an emergency group of

British officers prepared with dormant and temporary powers

of Government who would be as near the spot as possible,

ready to go in if the situation arose and to assume the

responsibility for the civil government until the arrival

of the regular Civil Affairs administration.

It is thought that the nucleus of such a unit is likely

to be available in the British Army Aid Group. Colonel Ride,

the Officer-in-Charge of the Group, who was previously on

the staff of Hong Kong University and has been in South China

in close touch with Hong Kong ever since his escape, would

seem to be the suitable person to lead such an emergency

administration.

It is thought that he could reinforce the

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