CO129-591-15 Proposed operations towards recapture of Hong Kong 8-8-1945 - 10-8-1945 — Page 7

/ Draft: J.). Pasuin

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Col. Chalmers I 3/8

Mr Gent. I

Sai G. Gater Y

Future Operations in China.

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TOP SECRET

Colonial Office views ref. J.P. (45) 200 (s) (T. of R.).

SAS

1. The Colonial Office interest in this operation is that adequate arrangements should be made for the re-establishment, under the operational control a clucction of the Force Commander. of British authority in Hong Kong immediately on its recapture.

in curl affairs

This will involve the introduction into Hong Kong of a British Civil Affairs Unit at the earliest possible moment.

The nucleus of such a unit exists in the form of a

at pescuit

which is Hong Kong Planning Unit, on a civilian basis, working in the Colonial Office. This unit is about to be militarised.

2. The introduction of this Unit could be either

(a) by land (with the forces advancing from Fort Bayard) or (b) by sea (assuming that it is the intention for Allied Fleet units either to take part in the operation or to enter Hong Kong at the time of its recapture),,

Of these alternatives the preferable course would be (b) As to this, we have not at present any arrangements with Chiang Kai Shek on the lines of Article 6 of the Charter of the (Anglo-American) Combined Civil Affairs Committee.

Even if

we are able to conclude such an agreement before the recapture

practical

of Hong Kong, there might be difficulties with the Chinese

which might delay the arrival in Hong Kong of the British

Civil Affairs Unit. For these reasons the Colonial Office

would prefer arrangements to be made for the Unit to be

introduced into Hong Kong by sea.

may be repected tobe

The difficulties in achieving this would be

Eask of sucessfully.

immeasurably lessened if British Naval forces could be

simplified

associated with the operation.

4. Apart from the considerations relating to the introduction

into Hong Kong of a British Civil Affairs Unit, it is a major British

interest that the task of restoring and maintaining order in

this British Colony, should be allotted to British rather than

to/

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