FO371-46255 — Page 107

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2. HONG KONG

D.0.(45) 10

BASING OF THE BRITISH PACIFIC FLEET

THE COMMITTEE considered a note by the Secretary covering a minute by the First Lord of the Admiralty proposing that the British Pacific Fleet should be based at Hong Kong and suggesting a draft telegram from the Prime Minister to the Prime Minister of Australia and a minute from the Prime Minister to the First Lord stating that, as this proposal had political aspects, a decision must be taken by the Defence Committee.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS said that he could see no objection to the Fleet being based at Hong Kong and might, in many respects, have a beneficial and steadying influence on various treaty undertakings involving ourselves, the Russians and the Chinese.

THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY said that the basing of the Fleet at Hong Kong would have many advantages. In many localities where there were important British interests. There would be no means of affording representation of the Home Government and aiding prisoners of war and internees except by sending units from the Fleet. As the ships engaged in this important work must be sustained with stores and fuel, the most economical method of doing this would be to make full use of the facilities found to be available at Hong Kong. Furthermore by shipping the Fleet's requirements direct to Hong Kong, there would be an appreciable saving in ships and fuel the gradual move of the Fleet's more necessary base requirements from Australia to Singapore and Hong Kong would be a notable economy and of considerable assistance to the Australian Government in manpower.

SIR ANDREW CUNNINGHAM pointed out to the Committee that British ships were only visiting Chinese ports under American orders and usually under command of Americen ships. The position of His Majesty's Government had, however, been reserved in order to allow British ships to be despatched to the various Chinese ports if the Government thought this desirable or necessary.

and

THE PRIME MINISTER said that if there were no political objections to our basing the Fleet at Hong Kong, he was prepared to agree to a decision which had many material advantages.

THE COMMITTEE:

(a) Agreed that the base and supply organisation

of the Fleet should be moved as practicable from Australia to Singapore and Hong Kong;

(b) Invited the Prime Minister to authorise the

despatch of the two telegrams annexed to the minute dated 4th September, 1945 to the Prime Minister from the First Lord of the Admiralty;

(c) Invited the Admiralty to communicate

accordingly with Admiral Fraser who

should then take action in consultation with the Australian authorities.

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