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(THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT).
SECRET.
C.O.S.(40)
13th Dctober, 1940.
WAR CABINET.
CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE.
HONG KONG.
Draft Report.
COPY NO.
...ded
1. a note
The Secretary of State for the Colonies has forwarded by Sir Geoffry Northcote, the Governor now on leave in the United Kingdom on the defensibility of Hong Kong; and has asked us to review the whole question or our defence policy at Hong Kong and to submit recommendations for our future policy.
2.
The gist of Sir Geoffry Northcote's note is that in order to avoid the slaughter of civilians and destruction of property which would arise in the event of a Japanese attack, the greater part of the garrison of Hong Kong should be withdrawn and Hong Kong declared an open town. He lays special stress on the lack of A.R.P. and fire fighting arrangements and on the fact that the fall of Hong Kong, if attacked in force, would only be a question of time.
3.
From the military point of view the unsatisfactory nature of our commitment at Hong Kong is fully realised. The question was exhaustively examined in 1937 and in our Far East Appreciation we pointed out that "militarily our position in the Far East would be stronger without this unsatisfactory commitment".
4.
Since our recent Far East Appreciation and Sir Geoffry Northcote's note were written, the situation in the Far East has changed to the extent that the Japanese have signed a pact with the Axis powers and have established themselves in parts of Indo-China. On the other hand, likelihood of U.S.A. co-operation in a war with Japan has become greater and hence we have been able to adopt a firmer line in our policy vis-a-vis Japan.
the
* Annexc
D.P. (P) 5 dated 14th June, 1937. C.0.S. (40)592.
1-
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