attack Hong Kong: Communist policy in China had so far been to preserve the existing connections with the non-Communist world. The Cabinet agreed, however, that the Chiefs of Staff should keep the development of events in the Far East under close and regular review so that, if there should be any significant change, Ministers would be able to consider urgently what should be their future policy in regard to Hong Kong.
(b) It should not be assumed that the Chinese Communists would not be able to launch a full-scale attack on Hong Kong from the mainland. While the Communist forces might not possess the military equipment of a first-class Power, they could exert pressure on Hong Kong by other means, such as a mass movement of refugees, which would be as effective against the Colony as a major direct attack.
(c) There was general agreement that the announcement of the decision to reinforce the Hong Kong garrison should be made in the course of the debate on the situation in China in the following week, unless circum- stances made it necessary to announce it earlier. Ministers thought it would be inadvisable to refer in this announcement to Communism or to the threat of "external aggression", but mention might be made of the risks arising from any great influx of refugees into the Colony. Care should be taken to avoid the use of words which might endanger the position of the British communities in China.
The Cabinet
(1) Endorsed the Defence Committee's
decision that one infantry battalion and brigade headquarters should be sent to Hong Kong at once, and that preparations should be made for the despatch of the remainder of the
brigade group as soon as practicable.
(2) Agreed that the decision to reinforce
the garrison at Hong Kong should be announced during the forthcoming debate in the House of Commons on the situation in China, unless circum- stances made it necessary to announce this earlier.
(3)