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Ref.:
CO 537/1260
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' safet 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 copyngi
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COMMENT
The threat of mine laying is only likely if hostilities break out with the Central Government of CHINA and a reserve of mine seepers is not considered to be essential in HONG KONG
Annex II Paragraph 11.
(ii) Regarding the provision of an assault force, we do not consider
that we shall be called upon to mount an operation of any size against
CHINESE territory, no matter how serious the deterioration in the
CHINESE situation, We do NOT, therefore, consider that the provision
of a Brigade lift is required at HONG KONG
for oss
There might, however, be a requireflent for landing small on the islands of the Colony itself for ensuring internal security.
As this would not be against any degree of opposition specialised
landing craft should not be necessary".
COMMENT.
In the event of operations by a CHINESE War Lord in possession
of CANTON, occasions may well arise necessitating an assault
landing, e.g. against BOCCA TIGRIS, a most likely operation both tactically and traditionally. considered that an assault lift for
kept in reserve at HONG KONG
Para 3 (c)
For this purpose it is one battalion should be
"Modern arms and equipment including aircraft and transport
would not in all probability be available to a provincial War Lord,
should one arise in SOUTH CHINA, to challenge the rule of CHIANG
KAI-SHEK. The possibility of an attack by a provincial War Lord
can also be excluded as long as a garrison of approximately its
present strength is available as a deterrent."
COMMENT
A pre-requisite of the existance of a War Lord capable of challenging other than the most olementary form of opposition is the possession of modern arms and equipment. For the past eight years both the U.K. and the U.S.A. have
scale. been supplying these items to CHINA on a major
In addition the CHINESE now possess all ex JAPANESE equipment left in CHINESE tanitary and HONG KONG.
า
cms
Ref.:
CO 537/1260
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
scopy is supplied subject to the National Archives' terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyngt
Please note that Further
Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' leaflet
1