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that it is
impossible to provide undergesund
helters
batt
on the island & the
manil and.
9 presume
that it is wort
undesirable that Houghing should fall into
Japanese hands it they can be avoided, 9
Гараши
Оли
quité
that they would convert-it-
winto a wally strong
bare
and would wit
be liable Wthe same role of attack from the
lavet rede as
we are
at present
1 thie
Dept
on
9 should like the news
the whole questzin - ugually
5013
oct-11
If it were not for the fact that we have a war of our own here admittedly under more adequately protected conditions - it would seem somewhat cold-blooded to suggest that Hong Kong should endure what is in store for it if the Japanese make an attack upon the colony. It has been clear for at least three years, and to those with any insight into Far Eastern affairs, for many more, that Hong Kong was liable to attack by Japan. It is, I suppose, idle to speculate why at the present moment there are no air defences and no adequate air raid shelters. All I would say is that I decline to believe that the latter could not have been built in ample time. Sir Geoffrey Northcote has not enlightened us on these points.
The
I totally disagree with (v) of Sir Geoffrey Northcote's conclusion, which shows a total lack of understanding of the Japanese psychology. Japanese know what we have got at Hong Kong, but they may nevertheless think twice before they attack it.
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