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8.

On the other hand:-

(a) S.A.C.S.E.A. will be providing the Army

garrison and air contingent. SHIELD Force, which is to proceed to Hong Kong, is to be placed under A.C.S.E.A.

(b) S.A.C.S.E.A. will be responsible for the

maintenance of the garrison and air forces and will have to provide the majority of the resources required.

(c) S.A.C.S.B.A. has adequate liaison arrangements

with General MacArthur and with the Generalissimo.

(d) S.A.0.5.E.A. would combine operational and

administrative control.

This is most

desirable from the point of view of land and air forces.

:

9. Chiefs of Staff. If the Chiefs of Staff assume direct control of Hong Kong, a number of problems (some of comparatively minor importance) are likely to be referred to them, Staffs in London will frequently have to refer to South East Asia Command before advising as to decision on these problems since South East Asia Command must provide the majority of the resources. While the Chiefs of Staff would have excellent liaison arrangements with the Generalissimo, their link with General Macirthur would necessarily be slower since it would have to go through the United States Chiefs of Staff.

On the other hand, this would give the Chiefs of Steff direct control over an important British possession concerning which there are likely to be both political and military complications in the immediate future. Moreover, the Foreign Office advise us that control by the Chiefs of Staff is likely to be more acceptablo to the Generalissimo than control by S.A.C.S.E.A.

Conclusion

10. On political grounds the advantage lies with control by the Chiefs of Staff. Nevertheless, in view of the desirability of quick liaison with General MacArthur, and of combined administrative and operational control of land and air forces, we think that control by S..C.S.E.A. in the initial period would be the most satisfactory arrangement.

11.

We therefore conclude that:-

(a) From the date of the arrival of his forces in

Hong Kong, S.A.C.S,E.A. should be responsible for operational and

administrative command, He should also be responsible for effecting the necessary co-ordination direct with General

MacArthur and with the Generalissimo through General Carton de Viart.

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