00034
12-21/4
4023
060317Z 0718152
1. SEP 1940
0.0.
September, 1946.
ford.
present at a
€ in South East Asia
ng was considered,
ou the views of the
assumptions on which
g Defence Plan",
y C in C Hong Kong hold good.
acking army led by
; on the colony, hinese Cantral
he Russians, was
opinion conflicts J.P.46)10 (revised
been supplied to
.ted States in
rears. Furthermore,
, in China and Hong
ow in possession.
ressed himself
/ available to him
so the consideration
d for the transport rution against a may have to be
12
CO 537/1260
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
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000 35
-2-
replaced before the end of 1947. The Committee agreed with this view.
4.
Land Forces
(48)(.) It was noted from your COSSE 546 TOO
031605 that it is your intention that the garrison of Hong Kong should be reduced to one brigade when the European Police Force is fully re-established, which it was understood was likely to bo about 1st January, 1947. The Governor of Hong Kong emphasised that the Police Force and the re-formed Volunteer Force would not be efficiunt enough by that date to enable the release of one brigade to take place. He could not name an exact date but hoped that the situation would permit the full reduction by April 1947.
(B) The Governor of Hong Kong hoped, after that date, to be able to fulfill his responsibilities with one British Brigade and one Field Artillery Regiment, so long as another Brigade and another Field Artillery Regiment were rodily vailble to re-inforce Hong Kong from within the rus of South East Asia. Committee strongly supported his view that this was the minimum permanent garrison required.
5.
Air Forces
(1) The Committee shared the view expressed
The
in pargraph 8(C) of J.F. (46) 10 (revised final) that a detachment of half a Flying Boat Squadron is sufficient ir Garrison for the Colony; reinforcements, if required, being drawn from elsewhere within the theatre.
(B) It was agreed that immediate air support, if required could probably bet be provided from the Carriers of the British Pacific Fleet, although it was pointed out that these carriers were just as likely, at any given time, to be in the East Indies as in the Pacific Station.
(0) The next stage of ir reinforcements, if required would be the despatch of a Fighter Squadron from Malaya rad means of aging for this Squadron to fly to Hong Kong are being investigated.
(D ny air lift required for army reinforcements would depend on similar staging arrangements for the transport aircrit boing made.
(3, The Provision of Radar at Hong Kong is also under i Westigation (1) by ...0.3.E.4.
cms
Ref:
CO 537/1260
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
7
N
restrictions Further Information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' leafel.
Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the National Archives' terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyrigh