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Assi F. Deus.
12 copies only
TOP SECRET CYPHER TELEGRAM
WARNING This message must be thoroughly paraphrased if its text is to be published or communicated outside British or American Services or Departments. If re-transmitted unparaphrased other than through the Cabinet Office, the originator must mark the message "to be sent in One-Time Pad."
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IMMEDIATE
From:- C.-IN-C. HONG KONG.
To:- CABINET OFFICES.
Info:- S.A.C.S.E.A.
F10071
IZ 10440
TOO 1206582 1 1945
TOR 1304457'
XOS A
GUARD
12th. November, 1945.
For Chiefs of Staff.
F/6112
COSSEA 404 timed 071600 para. 4.
+9820/524-61
With great respect I would submit that whilst policy of using Indian troops was deemed satisfactory in the past, a great change in our policy is necessary in order successfully to meet the conditions today. Our every action in Hong Kong is carefully scrutinised in China and everything which savours of a return to a pre-war attitude is seized upon to add to the clamour for the return to China of Hong Kong. Whilest casting no aspersions on the fighting efficiency of Indian troops, they lack the qualities of mental stability required for dealing with Chinese which are more than ever necessary now that Hong Kong is being used as a
In addition the use transit port for Chinese armies. of non-British troops in Hong Kong provides easy argu- ment for those who hold that Britain divides and rules. This is especially undesirable in this area.
2.
Unless we can always rely on a garrison of sufficient size to undertake police duties it may be necessary to retain some Indians in the Police Force against the possibility of a Chinese boycott as happened in 1926. I regret to report that, as a result of their behaviour during the period of Japanese occupation, the prestige of the Indian Police and especially Sikhs continues very low. It is therefore suggested that a solution for the future may lie in the enlistment of Churkas, Gwalis or at any rate races of Mongolian origin, whose afinities of temperament to the Chinese are reasonably close. Para 3 from SACSEA's 27692 D.T. G. 071229 November (Not to Chiefs of Staff) our immediate requirements for British troops appear to be in hand.
Circulation
Defence Office Foreign Office First Sea Lord C.6 Tels
A.M.C.S.
TOO 120658Z
S of S. Colonies S of S. Dominions S of S. India
M.W.T
Gen.Sir Mosley Mayne
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