TNAG-0062-FCO40-98-Dormant-Commission-to-appoint-the-Commander-of-British-Force-1971 — Page 6

Situa

n in 1962

104

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DEF. 75/51/02

1960-62.

Jon DEE

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1963-65. VotA!

BEE 75/51/02

Situation in 1963

On

EST DEF /51/02. VOCA.

1963-65.

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Hong bóng

concept of the role of the garrison in the defence of the Colony. He

also stated that the matter of the Dormant Commission required

re-examination since neither he nor the Commander British Forces, ^ could envisage any circumstances arising in which any advantage could

be gained by the latter's taking over the Governorship.

7.

In 1963, the Governor followed up this approach by questioning

"whether it is right that we should prolong resistance beyond the

point where it is clear that it cannot affect the eventual outcome and can only result in unnecessary casualties and hardship, not only to

the troops but also to the civil population, who will in any case have to remain here." He expressed the view that "the effect on civilian

morale would be disastrous if the head of the administration abandoned

his post". He also considered that so long as provision could be made

to deal with the possibility of disagreement arising between the

Governor and the Commander, British Forces, as to the extent to which

resistance should be prolonged when it could not affect the outcome,

then he saw no need for the Dormant Commission or for the Governor to

leave the Colony.

8. Following these representations, in September, 1963, a new directive was issued to the Commander, British Forces, Hong Kong. The relevant

relative section of the Directive read as follows:-

"Task

.11

4. The Garrison serves as an earnest of the British

intention to remain in Hong Kong and to resist any attack.

Your tasks are:-

(a) to maintain a show of force in the New Territories and

thereby sustain morale and contribute to internal

security.

(b) to assist the civil police, as necessary, in the

maintenance of law and order.

(c) to expose any Chinese incursion into the Colony with

armed force as an act of aggression.

(a) to deny any aggressor the use of military installations

of short term value".

The Directive also contained the following sentence which had not appeared in previous Directives:-

"The Governor of Hong Kong is responsible, subject to the direction

of Her Majesty's Government, for decisions of policy on the defence

of Hong Kong, and accordingly no military action in your operational

area should be taken without his agreement".

X+ This Directive is still in force.

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19.