L
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94003/27
1951.
E/42, 94003/A
1950.
on
Situation in 1959
E/125
on
DEF. 75/51/02
1960-62.
"Task
2. You are to defend the British Colony of Hong Kong which includes the Leased Territories, and to assist the Governor in maintaining internal security.
You will therefore take such military action as you con- sider necessary to prepare against attack and, in consultation with the Governor and through the General Officer Commanding, Land Forces, Hong Kong, to maintain law and order. Should an attack on the Colony develop you will take all measures necessary to defeat it and restore the situation in the
Colony.
#1
Although the Chiefs of Staffs agreed, at a meeting in December, 1950, that it would not be possible to hold Hong Kong against a full
scale Chinese attack, they then considered that the aim of our forces in Hong Kong should be:-
(a) to carry out internal security duties in the Colony.
(b) to prevent the Chinese from occupying Hong Kong without the
necessity of putting in a full scale attack.
(c) in the event of a full scale attack, to put up the strongest possible coordinated resistance until eventually driven back to the sea, when it might be possible to evacuate a limited
number of the garrison.
Hồng hãng,
At a certain stage in the battle, when military considerations became paramount, the Commander British Forces, would assume overall command by bringing the Dormant Commission into operation. The Governor would then cease to function as such and would leave the Colony.
5. In July, 1959, a fresh directive was issued to the Commander British Forces, Hong Kong. This directive took more account of the ability of China to overrun the Colony in a very short space of time and the relevant passage read as follows:
"Task
(a) to maintain a show of force in the New Territories
and thereby sustain morale and contribute to internal
security.
(b) to assist the civil police, as necessary, in the
maintenance of law and order.
(c) to expose any Chinese incursion into the Colony with
armed forces as an act of aggression.
(a) in extreme emergency to cover the evacuation of
families and loyal civilians to the greatest extent
possible."
6. In 1962, when the Governor was informed that the size of the Hong Kong garrison was to be reduced, he called in question the whole
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