CO129-592-12 Future policy and draft proclamations- Martial Law and establishment of military administration 1-8-1945 - 31-8-1945 — Page 17

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Establishment of a military Administration.

Assumption of

powers and jurisdiction.

Delegation.

Orders to be obeyed.

Existing laws otc. to be respected.

BRITISH LITARY ADMINISTRATION, MALAYA

་་་་

BE ON THE

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Proclamation No. 1

A Proclamation to establish a Military Administration.

WHEREAS by reason of military necessity and for the prevention and suppression of disorder and the maintenance of public safety it is necessary to place the territories of the Settlements of Singapore, Penang and Malacca, all islands and places forming part thereof and all British waters adjacent thereto, and the lialay States of Perak, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Johore, Kedah, Kelantan, Trengganu and Perlis, all islands forming part of such States and the territorial waters' there or (hereinafter called ialaya) under military administration:

NOW, THEREFORE, I Admiral Lord Louis Lountbatten Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order Commander of the Lost Honourable Order of the Bath, Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, Aide de Camp to His Majesty the King, Supreme Allied Commander South East Asia Command hereby PROCLAIM as follows:-

1.

A military administration to be called the British Military Administration is hereby established throughout such areas of Malaya as are at any given time under the control of the Forces under my command, and shall continue only so long as I consider it to be required by military necessity.

2.

I hereby assume for myself and Ly successors full ,judicial, legislative, executive and administrative powers and responsibilities and conclusive jurisdiction over all persons and property throughout such areas of lialaya as are at any given time under the control of the Forces under my command.

5. Subject always to any orders and directions which I may issue from time to time, I delegate to the General Officcr Commanding Military Forces, lalaya, all the powers, respon- sibilities and jurisdiction as he may deem necessary to any officer under his command and to empower such officer further to delegate any of such powers, responsibilities and jurisdiction.

4. All persons will obey promptly all orders given by me or under my authority and must refrain from all acts which impede the Forces under my command or are helpful to the enemy, from all acts of violence, and from any act calculated to disturb public order in any way.

5. (1) Subject to the provisions of any Proclamation of the British Military Administration and in so far as military exigencies permit -

1

(a) all laws and customs existing immediately prior to

the Japanese occupation will be respected:

Provided that such of the existing laws as the Chief Civil Affairs Officer considers it is practicable from time to time to administer during the period of military administration will be administered;