CO129-591-11 Emergency unit 1-1-1945 - 31-12-1945 — Page 98

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A good deal of consideration has, trefore,

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 3 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

id Group. Colonel Hide, the Officer-in-Charge of

the Group, who was previously on the staff of Hong

Kong University and has been in South Ching 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