CO129-591-12 Military Administration- Civil affairs- directives to force commander and senior officials 24-2-1945 - 13-9-1945 — Page 124

160

DRAFT

for issue by the Force Commander

Civil Affairs Directive/to the Chief Civil

Affairs Officer in Hong Kong,

Jo You have been appointed to act as principal staff officer, on matters relating to Civil Affairs, to the Senior Officer Commanding His Majesty's Forces in Hong Kong. You will operate under his general direction and instructions and will exercise such powers as he sees fit to delegate to you from time to time.

2. In order to enable you to carry out these duties you will be provided with a War Establishment of about 314 officers with the appropriate subordinate staff and equipment.

3.

The functions of the Civil Affairs Administration are two-fold: -

(a) Short-term. The maintenance of law and order and the prevention of disease and unrest.

This will involve amongst other things:-

As it has not

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(1) The establishment of a police force. been possible to provide you with adequate personnel for this purpose, you will have to rely at first on such military personnel as the S.0.C. can spare for the purpose.

(11) The establishment of military courts.

(111) The control, so far as possible, of the influx of civiliane by land and sea.

(iv) The establishment of relief camps and the provision of relief for distressed persons,

(~) The provision of medical treatment in these camps, in hospitals or elsewhere,

(Ti) The taking of adequate measures of public health and sanitation.

(vii) The restoration and maintenance of essential public serviqse.

(viii) The control and distribution of supplies,

(ix) The taking into custody and management of the property of absent owners and, in some cases, of enemies. (See separate directive.)

(x) The setting up of such war-time control (e.g. exchange control, censorship) as may be deemed necessery.

(xi) Treatment of renegades and quislings in accordance

with the terms of the special directive issued to you,

(xii) The taking of such inmediate steps as may be necessary to record claims for war damage.

These activities will require the provision of both consumption and capital goods. The essential supplies required for the period of military administration are being procured by the War Office and will be shipped to you as soon as possible.

You have been furnished with particular directives on the more important of these matters.

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