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NOTE

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Top Secret

ta for the Administration of Hong Kong

18 Tiberation by FORLET Chinese

186

1. At present Hong Kong is in the operational sphere of

Generalissimo Chiang Kai Shok whone Chief of staff is the

American General wedemeyor.

2.

We therefore have to be prepared

for the contingency of the Colony being liberated by Chinese

Forces operating (virtually) under American direction.

According to information provided by the U. Chiefs of staff

to the British Chiefs of Staff at Terminal, an offensive is

contemplated by American-trained Chinese forces in the

direction of Canton and Hong Kong in the fairly near future.

Even assuming that the Chinese are prepared in such

circumstances to hand back Hong Kong to Hio kajesty's Goverment

it would nevertheless be embarrassing to have to receive it

from them. The question whether it is practicable for Hong Kong to be recaptured by British (including Dominion) forces, or with

the participation in some degree of British forces, is one for the

appreciation of the Chiefs of Staff. If neither course is

practicable we shall have to accept the position.

3.

In that case it is, at all events, important that we

should be able to assume the administration of this British

Colony as soon as the military situation allows, and

obtain an agreement that from the outset of any initial

period of military administration our Civil Affaire policies

should be accepted, and that the Civil Affairs administration

should be conducted by British personnel.

منا

At present we have no understanding with the chine Se Government (as we have with the U.. Goverment*) in respect

of their acceptance of British Civil Affairs policies in any

British territory included in their operational sphere.

See AnneI.

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