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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT

The circulation of this paper has been strictly limited.

It is issued for the personal use of,

lon Jenndate Bennett.

TOP SECRET

Copy No. 47

Ci-culated for the consideration of the Chiefs of St;'

J.P. (45) 231 (Final)

29TH AUGUST, 1945.

CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE

JOINT PLANNING STAFF

HONG KONG

DIRECTIVE

?14

Report by the Joint Planning Staff

出

As instructed, we have examined the revised directive to Admiral Harcourt circulated by the First Sea Lord. We

have taken into account the views of the Foreign Office and the Colonial Office.

2.

Three urin issues are involved:

(a) The position of Admiral Harcourt in relation

to the Military Administration of the Colony and to the forces stationed there.

(b) The practicability of the arrangements

proposed for the operational control and administrative support of the military forces.

(c) The question of obtaining Chinese and American

recognition of the new command organisation.

Powers of Admiral Hercourt in Hong Hong

3.

The expression "Military Governor is considered by the Colonial Office inappropriate on constitutional grounds. They point out that the law of the Colony, the Civil Courts and the Constitutional Instruments are to be suspended by the will of the military authority. A military administration is to be substituted, which is the equivalent of martial law. They are of the opinion that the officer who is to be head of the military administration will exercise his functions as a military duty.

We consider that Admiral Harcourt should be nominated "Head of the Military Administration" and he must, in this capacity, be responsible to the Secretary of State for War.

4.

The draft directive states that Admiral Harcourt is to be responsible to the Chiefs of Staff for the security of the Colony, but that subject to this, command of land and air forces should be vested in the Supreme Allied Commander, South East Asia, and that of naval forces in the

# 0.0.S. (45) 207th leeting.

C.0.S. (45) 549(0).

-1-

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