CO129-591-17 Liberation of Hong Kong- instructions to Mr Gimson- proposed civil administrator 10-8-1945 - 21-9-1945 — Page 21

Orig 54/44/42/45 (Dup. W.).__

TOP SECRET CYPHER TELEGRAM

DESPATCHED BY 0.T.P.

Oz 5488 TOO 03 14202 TOD 0318082

154

19

IMPORTANT

From: A.M.S.S.O.

ΤΟ : C. in C. Hong Kong)

Passed by Admiralty as 03122

Info: C. in C. B.P.F.

C. in C. India

General Carton de Wiart

J.S.M. Washington

S.A.C.S.E.A. (Last named please pass copy to Brigadier McDougall reference Admiralty signal to CTG 111-2 of 31 August. (311930/August).

if

5488

1.

3rd September, 1945.

14

Following from Chiefs of Staff.

13

Your signals 010943Z/Sept. and 011308Z/Sept., (to Admiralty only). You will now have received Admiralty signal 311930/August containing text of Civil Affairs directive to Brigadier McDougall as Chief Civil Affairs Officer in Hong Kong.

2.

Your provisional appointment of Gimson as Lieutenant Governor noted and value of his services in present emergency is very fully appreciated. But title of Lieutenant Governor should not be used and we presume he can perform his present services to you in his existing appointment of Colonial Secretary. His functions should be regarded as strictly temporary until McDougall and Civil Affiers Staff arrive when McDougall will become your Principal Staff Officer for Civil Affairs in accordance with Directive.

3.

Colonial Office hope that as soon as Gimson and other officers who have been interned can be released by you, they will be repatriated home for long overdue leave and consult ation here.

4.

McDougall will explain arrangements for Civil Affairs personnel for period of Military Administration and subsequent- ly.

He is also supplied with full instructions on Civil Affairs policy by Colonial Office in agreement with War Office. 14 5.

Gimson mentions in 0113082/September your intention to appoint "usual other Civil officers and councils" to assist him.

Under military administration it would be inappropriate to make any appointment of usual councils in view or full powers and jurisdiction assumed by yourself under Proclamat- ion in Admiralty signals to C. in C. B.P.F. 130032A/August as