ANNEX III
AA DEFENCE OF HONG KONG
Introduction
Note by the Jar Office
The Commanders in Chief Far East consider that there is an urgent requirement for the early arrival in Hong Kong of one composite AA regiment of two heavy batteries and one light battery.
Threat of Air Attack
2.
Recent estimates show that though the Communist Forces have so far made no use of aircraft in operations they have been training for some time on old Japanese aircraft and at present they are also known to have obtained some aircraft by defection from the Nationalist Forces. The se consist of some 16 assorted bombers and 5 fighters though this count is incomplete and there may be other aircraft not at present identified.
There will also undoubtedly be other aircraft left behind by the Nationalists as the Communists advance, some of which may be made serviceable.
3. The Communists have at present no operational air experience and the morale of those Nationalist aircrews who have defected is low.
In view of this, any air threat to the Colony is likely to be of poor operational standard and lacking in determination.
4.
Should a peace be arranged the transfer of the Nationalist Air Forces at present in Formosa may well be one of the conditions imposed by the Communists. This might bring some further 450 modern aircraft under Communist control. It is still considered however that determination to press home an attack would be lacking.
AA Defence
5. There are at present NO AA defences in Hong Kong and in spite of the poor quality of any possible threat it is considered that some AA defence should be provided for three main reasons.
6.
(a) To maintain the morale of the population of the
Colony, particularly the Chinese element.
(b) As a deterrent to an attack.
(c) To ensure that if an attack is made it meets with
opposition likely to increase any lack of determination to press the attack home, and to prevent further attacks.
To provide an AA force capable of giving efficient all round AA defence to Hong Kong would mean sending some two AA Regiments at least and this would be out of proportion to
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