/46
00067
ignature.
swer to your letter
he 31st July
who is away on leave
were relieved to
of Staff had agreed
defer consideration
withdraw British
ng and that the policy
n in the 0.0.5.
the 3rd April
-
viz.
ill remain at two
but be reduced to one
oe is fully
his decision we think
this stage even to
for the creation of
endarmerie on the
Although we realize
ies with which you are
United Kingdom troops
ions, we are unable to
that the removal of
п Hong Kong in the
can be justified.
I
enclose/
26
1
N
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
enclose a nopp-of-a despatch which we have
just received from Hong Kong enclosing a
strategic appreciation compiled for the
セント
(South East Asia Defence Committee -You will
see that the Governor disagrees with the
appreciation prepared by the Joint Planning
In this paper JP (46) 10
Staff on a number of points. In particular,
A
he considers that the threat of attack by
Chinese war lords has been under-estimated,
and that there is only too much chance of the
forces of these war lords being well equipped.
His emphatic view is that no reduction of
the British garrison can be contemplated
until the police force have reached a strength
of 2,100 fully trained men, and that for
defence against war lords' attacks two brigades
of troops and artillery would be necessary.
These would be needed for operations, while the
police and such volunteer forces as were
available could maintain law and order.
British
The South East Asia Defence Committee will
no doubt soon be giving their comments on the
appreciation, but we ourselves are generally in
agreement with it, and we are reinforced in
our views by the Chief Secretary, Hong Kong,
who is at present in this country. We note also
that they would shared by Sir Rhoderick McGrigor
in the 113th meeting of the Chiefs of Staff
Committee held on the 18th July, who, laid stress
at which he
A
on the importance of retaining British forces
areho in Hong Kong for political and economic reasons.
iftus important; thence We also feel there are other/Onoons why
consideration of plans för a gendarmerie is
premature. First, we do not see that any great saving in British manpower would be effected.
+ Sunt in miginal to save typing; please II/
Later,
ration
cms
Ref.:
CO 537/1260
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
restrictions.
Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' leaflet
00068
46
46, pp 4.57
سا
CO 537/1260
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
2
Ins
restnctions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' leaflet 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 copynghi
Page 80Page 81
26
00068
46
46, pp 4,57
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