00081
Molesare 1.
TOP SECRET
F/1/10/G(F1.
951
COFT No......
DATE: 4th July, 1946,
HONG KONG DEFENCE COMMITTEE
APPRECIATION OF THE STRATEGIC VALUE OF HONG KONG IN THE LIGHT OF S/CSEA TEL 220503 JUNE*
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Ref.:
CO 537/1260
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
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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 copyright
restrictions. Further information is geven in the enclosed
Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' leaflet
1. PRESENT STRENGTH OF MILITARY FORCES IN HONG KONG
Royal Navy
Naval forces for the defence of HONG KONG will be provided from the BRITISH Pacific Fleet and their strength will depend upon other commitments prevailing at the same time in South East Asia.
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It is the intention to reduce the BRITISH Pacific Fleet to:
Two Light Fleet Carriers
Four Cruisers
Eight Destroyers
Twelve Escort Vessels
Eight Submarines
One Submarine Depot Ship
One Fleet Repair Ship
by 31st December, 1946.
In addition, sufficient craft for a Brigade lift are available
in reserve at Hong Kong.
(For fuller details sec Appx. "B").
The present Land Force Garrison consists of one Commando Brigade
and one INDIAN Infantry (State Forces) Brigade, both under strength, and some ancillary troops. There is NO artillery.
R.A.F.
Air Forces :
One Transport Command Squadron consisting of 22 DAKOTA aircraft.
One detachment of a Flying Boat Squadron consisting of three SUNDERLAND aircraft.
Ground Forces :
2.
One Squadron R.A.F. Regiment, strength 250 personnel.
ESTIMATED REQUIREMENTS OF MILIATRY FORCES.
It was agreed by the C-in-C HONG KONG and his Service Chiefs in December, 1945 that, based on the following assumptions:
+Relevant extract at Appendix "A"
Paper 58/2 of 24th December, 1945, from Office of C-in-C HONG KONG.
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