TNAG-0181-FCO40-217-Order-in-Council-for-evacuation-of-Hong-Kong-in-an-emergency-1968 — Page 46

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22

Registry No.

DRAFT Submission

HKK 10/8

мела

Type 1+2 copies

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

From

To:-

Top Secret.

Secret.

Confidentiat.

Mr. Welford

Telephone No. & Ext.

Restricted. Unclassified,

PRIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

Department

Problem

The Requisitioning of Ships Order, 1969

Flag A

Flag B.

Flag C

In 1955

Prerogativ

rogative powers were invoked by way of

The Order

the Requisitioning of Ships Order, 1955, to provide for

the requisitioning of British ships for the evacuation

of Hong Kong in the event of an emergency.

was brought up to date by the Requisitioning of Ships

(Amendment) Order, 1958, but is now again out of date

and it is considered that both the original Order and

the amending Order should be revoked and replaced by a

fresh Order.

Recommendation

2. I recommend that the attached draft Requisitioning

of Ships Order, 1969, be submitted to the Privy Council,

together with a separate Order (the draft of which is

also attached) revoking the Order of 1955 and the

amending Order of 1958. The Ministry

Boad of Trade Agree. Background

of

Defence and the

3. From the early 1950's until the beginning of 1968

plans were held in readiness for requisitioning a-con-

siderable tonnage of shipping for the evacuation of

Hong Kong in the event of an emergency. The necessary

requisitioning powers were originally provided under

United Kingdom Defence Regulations, but in 1955 those

Regulations lapsed and the Royal Prerogative was then

invoked by way of an Order in Council (The Requisitioning

/ of

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