FO371-46251 — Page 236

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189

Tom Secret

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1.

Arrangements for the Administration of Kong Kong In the event of its liberation by regulur Chinese

forces

At present Hong Kong is in the operational sphere of

Generalissimo Chiang Kai She whose Chief of Staff is the

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American General Tedeneyer. We therefore have to be prepared

for the contingency of the Colony being liberated by Chinese

Forces operating (virtually) under American direction.

2.

:

According to information provided by the U.3. Chiefs of Staff

to the Pritish Chiefs of Staff at Terminal, an offensive 18

contemplated by American-trɛined Chinese forces in the

irection of Canton und Hong Kong in the fairly near future.

Even assuming that the Chinese are prepared in such

circumstances to hand bɛek Hong Kong to H.M.G. 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

particip: tion 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 us soon as the military situ tion allows, and

obtain an agreement that from the outset of any initiɛl

ཝཱ

period of militery administration our Civil Affairs policies

should be accepted, and that the Civil · ff: ire administr tion

should be conducted by British personnel.

4. At present we have no underatɩnding with the Chinese

Government (as we have with the U.S. Government*) in respect

of their acceptance of British Civil ¡ffairs policies in ny

British territory included in their op rution:1 sphere.

See Annex.

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