I
00086
EVENTU.L DEFENCE RR.NGEMENTS
13. As regards the eventu: 1 land garrison of Hong Kong the Chiefs of Staff, i considering in suggestion by the Var Office that it was undesirable to tie up permanently regular British troops in Hong Kong, decided to defer consideration of the withdrawal of these forces. They invited the Yor Office however to raise with the Colonial Office the recruitrient, atrength and composition of a Hong Kong police f、ree or powdermarie capable of ensuring the internal security a local protection of the Colony against guerrillco.
14. The Colonial Offic, preliminary opinion of this proposal, since amplified in discussion, is that, in view of the politicnl pitur.tisa in Chins, they ornnot foresce n time when the security of the Col-ny could be effected by any force other thin rejul: ṛ troops. Furthermore, the South East Asin Defence Committee has strongly recommended that a garrison of on. British brigade and one field artillery regiment will be required permanently in Hong Kong.
15. In vis these inins wo eider that discussions
on the rs.tien orunlar aric for Hong Kong should now be holt in buyinc.
16. If however it is couniderod probable that the shortage of rmy mɛn-pover in likely to necessitate the abandonment of comitants Thich have hithert hon roger-led es inescapable, we consiner that 1 vorili r. viw should be made of the
practic bility of f' rla; gnunturi in all Colonial territories to rul.eu, 1. mole or in part, our regular garrisons.
17.
CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that:-
(a) The strength of the garrison of Hong Kong should
if possibl.. remain unaltered until the local relioo and volunteer forces are efficient, which it is expected will be by ¿pril. S....0.5.E.. should be instructed to make appropriate arrangements in the light of the Bituation in Hong Kong and elsewhere in his Command if a replacement for 150 I.S.F. Brigade becomes nocozzary.
(b) 3 Commande Brigade should be moved as soon as io
practicable to Malta, thereby making possible the provision of two infantry battalions which, together with a field regiment, should form the British garrison of Hong Kong after April, 1947. The field regiment should be provided by s....o.S.D., who should also earmark an infantry brigade as a reserve at call within S.E....C.
+ 0.0.9.(46) 193(0)
0.0.5.(46 113th Meeting 0.0.5.(46) 116th llecting
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restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed "Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' leaflet. se now that this copy is supplied subject to the National Archives' terms and conditions and that your use of Il may be subject to copyrig
18.
Office Mini
30T
Page 570Page 571
00086
FU..L DEFENCE RR.NGEMENTS
e eventu: 1 land garrison of Hong Kong
', in considering a suggestion by the
was undesirable to tie ur permanently upa in ilong Kong, decided to defer vithdrawal of these forces. They Viec however to raise with the Colonial icht, strowth and composition of a
reer lermarie capable of ensuring the local protection of the Colony against
Office preliminary opinion of this
lified in discussion, is that, in view of 1. a in China, they cannot foresce a time
the Colony could be effected by any
ul troops. Furthermore, the South East tec hus strengly recommended that a tish brigade and one field artillery quired permanently in Hong Kong.
383 vinine wo cuider that discussions
ntar eric for Hong Kong should now
is considered probable that the shortage
likely to necessitate the abandonment of
ve itlert bon regarded as inescrpablo, we erall r vily should be trio of the
V
Pain: gali tri in all Colonial turritorics
in it, our regular garrisons.
SHCLUBICHS
hot:-
ngth of the merrison of Hong Kong should zibl., rum in uneltered until the local
and volunteur fercos are efficient,
it is expected will be by April.
3.B... should be instructed to make
rinte arrangements in the light of the
ion in Hong Kong and elsewhere in his Command
placu unt for 150 I.S.F. Brigade becomas
ry.
le Brigade should be moved as soon as is cable to alta, thereby making possible ovision of two infantry battalions which, or with a field regiment, should form itish garrison of Hong Kong after April,
The field regiment should be provided by 3.2.1. who should also earmark an ry brigade ns reserve at call within
>.
3.0.8.(46) 193(0)
3.0.s.(46) 113th Meeting:
3.0.3.(46) 116th Meeting
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CO 537/1261
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
N
restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' leafle
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