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Commander-in-Chief, British Pacific Fleet, unless the security of the Colony is actually threatened.

This

arrangement would be subject, to the following disadvantages:-

5.

(a) The defence of the Colony and the prevention.

of internal disturbance can only be effected through the ultimate medium of the forces

at the disposal of Admiral Harcourt. Unless Admiral Harcourt has full control of such forces at all times, he will be

deprived of the main means of carrying out this responsibility.

(b) Admiral Harcourt is to be responsible for the

military administration of the Colony but he would not be commanding the military forces with which his administration will be carried on.

(c) The chain of comand would be complicated.

S...C.S.B.A. would not be able to exercise any effective command of the land forces but command of air forces cxercised by S.M.C.S.F.A. would give increased flexibility.

We, therefore, consider that Admiral Harcourt should be appointed Commander-in-Chief of the forces of all three Services stationed ashore in Hong Kong.

Except in the case of emergency, however, naval and air forces visiting Hong Kong or in transit should continue under their normal commanders,

Operational Control and Administrative Responsibility

6.

Whatever arrangements are made for command and operational control, S.A.C.S.E.A. should remain responsible for providing the administrative support for the land and air forces and for civil affairs.

The proposed solution whereby Admiral Harcourt would be responsible to the British Chiefs of Staff might mean that numerous conflicts of priorities between the require- ments of Hong Kong and those of South East Asia Command would be referred to London for decision. This might enta il certain delays. There is nothing inherently impracticable in such a solution but we must point out that if military operations are necessary in the defence of Hong Kong, then operational command will be divorced from full administrative control.

Naval forces will, in any case, be supported by the Commander-in-Chief, British Pacific Fleet.

Co-ordination with the Americans and Chinese

7.

Hong Kong is considered both by the Chinese and Americans as being still in the China Theatre, an arrange- ment which has been recognised by the Combined Chiefs of Staff. It is, therefore, important that we should inform both the United States Chiefs of Staff and the General issimo of the arrangements we intend.

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