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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT
The circulation of this paper has been strictly limited.
It is issued for the personal use of
$ts
Foriegn affairs
TOP SECRET
Copy No...
C.O.S. (45) 606 (0)
9TH OCTOBER, 1945
CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE
F.E F8928
1.
GARRISON OF HONG-KONG
Note by the War Office
The Chiefs of Staff invited the War Office to examine and make recommendations on a telegram from Commander-in-Chief HONG-KONG requesting that the Garrison of HONG-KONG should be increased from one to two brigades.
2.
The reasons given by Commander-in-Chief HONG- KONG for requiring an increase to the Garrison are: the lack of any civil police and the necessity for normal police duties being done by the Army; the necessity to guard all vulnerable points, food stores and other public property; and the necessity to guard 22,000 Japanese prisoners of war. We consider that these reasons fully justify increasing the Garrison temporarily to two brigades.
3.
At present the Garrison of HONG-KONG is one Commando Brigade, and some 3,000 administrative troops were due to arrive about 5th October, 1945.
It was intended to relieve the Commando Brigade in the near future; it had also been intended that 2 British Division (less one brigade group) should be responsible for the Garrison, both at HONG-KONG and the CHINA ports. It now appears that no garrison will be required for the CHINA ports and it is considered that in view of the shipping situation the relief of the Commando Brigade in HONG-KONG should be postponed until more shipping is available. The only immediate move required is, therefore, the move of one brigade of 2
• Division to HONG-KONG,
9
+ C.0.S.(45) 237th Meeting of 28th September,
1945.
Cipher 270530 of 27th September, 1945. Cipher J.S.M. 65 of 26th September, 1945.
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