Closing Down
1. LTR:
“After the Japanese surrender, all B.A.A.G. posts in Eastern Kwangtung closed on B.A.A.G. East H.Q., and the military personnel under Lt.Col Hooper, at Admiral Sir Chan Chak’s special request, formed part of his party to re-enter Canton. B.A.A.G. Posts in Kwangsi and Western Kwangtung moved with all their stores, archives, civilian staff and their families into Canton and were gradually repatriated to Hong Kong via Macao. A similar operation was carried out for the archives and families from Eastern Kwangtung, and by the end of September all our posts and personnel from S.CHINA had been completely withdrawn into Hong Kong.
Kunming personnel, archives and stores presented a much more difficult problem. All essential military personnel and civilian staff were gradually flown in as R.A.F. planes became available under arrangements made by B.T.C., but the large number of families of Chinese staff, agents and members of the China Unit who had been our responsibility for the last three years had to be brought by road, a long journey of over 1,000 miles. This had to be done in two convoys, and it was not until December that Captain Watts successfully completed these difficult operations.
In November, word was received that the B.A.A.G. was to close down on 31st December. Staff had to be paid off, claims had to be investigated and paid; agents who had been working all the time in enemy territory had to be interrogated and deaths of agents investigated. All stores, transport, equipment and cash balances were handed over to Land Forces, Hong Kong.”
2. Further Details
Minutes from meeting discussing the disbandment of BAAG
HK Public Records Off: 169-2-265
Winding Down Progress Report 23rd November 1945
AWM: 14/4/04-7