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14.
SECRET CYPHER TELEGRAM
Cilykli
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1.
For Chiefs of Staff.
25th February, 1946.
It is evident that a considerable period of time must elapse before conditi. ns in Hong Kong can reach anything approaching stability. Whatever therefore the final policy for the defence of Hong Kong, it will be necessary to make special provision for the interim period which lies ahead when any failure to maintain law and order would place a strong weapon in the hands of the Irredentists in China.
2.
Apart from theatre strategic consideration the following local factors are likely to influence military requirements
(a) the inadequacy of the locally recruited' police who will not be fully manned and trained before the End of the year and who anyhow may be susceptible to Chinese pressure
(b) the greatly increased security burden which results from the general dislocation and unsettled cunditions inevitable after enemy occupation, now fall to the military
..
(c) the economic distress which must remain until trade and employment return
(d) the "open" frontier which allows the free passage of large numbers of undesirables attracted to Hong Kong by the relatively higher standard of living and security which prevails here
(e) the continued movement of large numbers
of Chinese troops through the colony
(f)
the prospect of the repatriation through Hong Kong of some 80,000 Japanese prisoners of war from South China
+ Held for check and repeat
า
-
in China fi Nationalis Communist strength a
administra administru
new territ
3.
and it is so long as
4.
the preser
one at lea
should be
5.
with Admir Hong Kong
nirculatio
Defence uf. Foreign of First seu U.6.Tels A.M. C. S. Secretary Secretary
Secretary
General Sì,
Page 225Page 226
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+Rissman. 14. Cilian
y paraphrased if its text is to be published
1 or American Services or Departments. It
■ Cabinet Office, the originator must mark
IZ 1202 TOU 2509382 TOR 281140Z
1303114
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5th February, 1946.
considerable period of
3 in Hong Kong can reach
Whatever therefore the
ong Kong, it will be
on for the interim period
to maintain law und
in the hands of the
trategic consideration
ikely to influence
of the locally recruited'
ed and trained before the
y be susceptible to
reased security burden slocation and unsettled
occupation, now fall to
stress which must remain
tier which allows the undesirables attracted gher standard of living
ovement of large numbers ony
the repatriation through prisoners of war from
+ Held for check and repeut