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DISTRIBUTION OF THIS MESSAGE IS TO BE LIMITED TO THOSE OFFICERS WHO ARE CONCERNED WITH ITS CONTENTS

TOP SECRET

12

OUT

WARNING: This is an unparaphrased version of a secret cypher or confidential code message, and the text must first be paraphrased* if it is essential to communicate it to persons outside British or Allied Government Services.

(*NOTE: Messages shown as having been sent in a One-Time Pad: "O.T.P." are excepted from this rule.)

To: C.T.F.111.

C.T.G. 111.2.

301624/Aug.

Date 30.8.45.

From: Admiralty

IMMEDIATE

Naval Cypher (DD) 0.T.P.

Following from Chiefs of Staff addressed J.S.M. Washington., Info: C.T.F.111, C.T.G. 111.2 SACSEA (Guard), C. in C. India, General Carton de Wiart as C.0.s. (W) 84 30th August: begins:

You will have soon the directive fasued to Admiral Harcourt repeated to you as A. M. 301619. This directive is for your own information, You should, however, inform the U.S. Chiefs of Staff that:

(a) Wo bavo appointed Admiral Hernourt C. in C. of the

He will forces of all Shreo Services in Hong Kong,

be directly responsible to London for the security of the Colony (which includes the New Territories) and for the conduct of the Military Administration which he how been ordored to establish there.

(b) In conformity with our undertaking in C.0.s.(w) 69,

Admiral Harcourt has been instructed to provide port and other facilities in the Colony for the assistance and support of American and Chinese forces in the hinterland.

c) We are informing Generlissimo Chiang Kai Shek of

these arrangements.

2. For your own information it is possible that the Generalissimo may argue that Hong Kong is still within the China Theatre, and that he is, therefore, entitled to issue orders to Admiral Harcourt. We do not intend ourselves to raise the question of theatres of command, but if the Generalissimo does so we shall take the line that we rogard the end of the Japanese war as terminating the arrangement whereby Hong Kong is within the China theatre.

1st Lords

1st S..(3)

D.P. S.I,

D.N.I.(4)

Ca

D

N.A. to D.F.S, L. D. O.D. (F) (2)

V.C.N.S.

Sec.

A.C.N.S.(F) P.A.S.(S) P.A.S.(L)

Ends,

T.0.0. 301 624

for Secretary to First Sea Lord

(1169)

Hd or M (40) and for War Office

A.M.C.S.

Foreign Office.

Dominion Office.

Colonial Office.

M.W..

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Defence Office. India Force.k.

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