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200
nce of Hong Kong lies in
an operational naval and
iture conflict in the Pacific.
possession which has very
under modern conditions Fainst attack by major linese mainland. We sho la ong Kong forces or defences ired, or overrun and lost.
.ew a case might be made out 1st the ill armed forces
ny other power, is likely lowover, the J.I.C. state
ith China in the next ten
egligible, we do not consider
8 eventuality in assessing
ntained in Hong Kong in
ld therefore be to provide for
Kong as an operational
in which the strategic
oble, by being prepared to cessery scale of defences
ck from a distance.
short term policy, dispense
s in Hong Kong, in view of
n-C. Hong Kong and by the ity of attack by a Chinese
ose should also be adequate
cking to assist the
ning internal security;
r;
ainst piracy;
tige, and act as a
ose aspirations.
t the possible timing of reduction
development of a properly
roe will enable some of the arrison forces to be taken over
eng Kong
cy set out in the previous
nt Annex II C.-in-C. Hong Kong's
the following is a summary
with C.-in-C. Hong Kong's
naval forces. We consider,
4 BYMS and the L.3.I. (M)
-3-
i
00200
(b) The present garrison of two Frigades
should be reduced to one as soon as
the European Police Forct is re-
established. We consider that a garrison
of one Brigade should be a sufficient
deterrent to a Chinese War Lord.
We are unable to estimate when the situation in China will become sufficiently quiet to enable a further reduction
to be made.
(c) A detachment of half a Flying Boot Squadron is sufficient air garrison for the Colony.
The provision of fighter defence, A.A. and coast defences, nav 1 defences and the formation of an auxiliary air force are affected only by our long term policy
of providing for the possible need to use Hong Kong as an operational naval and air base. These parts of J.-in-C. Hong Kon's defence plan should, therefore, be examined by the Defence of Bases Committee and the Service Ministries. (a) The establishment of a Joint Intelligence Committee at Hong Kong should be authorised.
(e) The Hong Kong volunter Naval, Army and
Police Forces should be formed as soon as practicable.
Recommendations
11. We recommend that:-
(a)
(10)
A copy of this paper should be sent to
C.-in-C. Hong Kong.
The Defence of Bases Committee should be
invited to recommend the sonle of defences to be provided ot liong Kong to implement our long term policy, taking this paper into account.
(Signed) J.F. STEVENS
S.S. THOMPSON
J.H. EDWARDES-JONES
Offices of the Cabinet an
Minister of Defence, 3.W.1.
11TH FEBRUARY, 1946.
We do not consider that
this matter can be dealt
with adequately by telogram.
ما
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ns and that your use of it may be subject to copyng
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