00236
for inshore patrol craft and would be readily available for service on Chinoso rivers should this be called for.
5.
Anhibious Lift. Action has already buon takon to placo 6. C. T. and L. C. I. (L) in roservo at Zong Kong, An L. S. I. (1) will not be required (soe para. 11 below),
6.
Inshore latrols. No agroo that 16 H.D.il. L. will be required temporarily for inshore patrols, to provent the infiltration of arents and the smuggling of arms into the colony, until the local policy force can take over.
7.
ine sweeping. The provision of mine swoopors cannot be considered cenential in vioy of the J. I. C. ostinato that mining is only likely if hostilities broak out with tho Central Lovernment of China and that the likelihood of this in the next 10 years is so romote us to be negligible.
Aray
8.
C.-in-C., Hong Kong, estintos the land forces requirod ce ono division loss one brigado disgosod as follows :-
Control of Frontier
and New Territorios
Kowloon
Hong Kong Island
Ono Brigado Group plus
Div. Rocco. and Liv. ii. G. battalion
One Brigalo Group less
one battalion
Two Battalions (including
Divisional Defence Battalion)
Ho lso states that thoro is a requirement for an esscult lift for one brigado for a minor soa-borne expedition to the China Coast in the ovent of a sorious deterioration of the Chinese situation.
Corrient
9. The garrison consists of two brigados at the present time; the second brigado has been provided primarily for policy duties, since the Hong Kong iolice Force is not yot of adequate strength. The Colonial Office have stated that they have for a long timo past regarded the recruiting and dospatch of adequate reinforcements to the European Folice force in Hong Kong as a matter of urgency and importance, and stops are being taken to this ond.
10. Once the police forco has been brought up to an adequate, strength we do not consider that more than one brigado is required to carry out the tasks given in paragraph 1 above. C.-in-C., Hong Kong, should take up the question of tho provision of the necessary supporting arms for this brigado direct with the War Office.
In the ovent of an attack by China appearing inminent, it should be possible to provide ruim'oreccnts from ulsowhere.
11. Regarding the provision of an assault force, wo do not consider that we shall be called upon to mount an operation
0.0.S. (45) 694 (0)
-9-
Ref.:
CO 537/1260
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
F
N
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