1
2
Cms
Ref.:
CO 537/1427 THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
2
Ins
restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' leaflet. Please 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
I
J
00060
2
Cms
Ref.:
CO 537/1427
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
~
restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' leaflet. Please 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
ام
SECRET.
gir,
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
RECEIVED
15 OCT1946
O. REG
IN NG KONG,
7th October, 1946.
101
22923/15/46
(92) 2272
I have the honour to refer to my Confidential 2 despatch of 4th September, 1946, on the subject of the construction of a
modern international airport on the coast of Deep Bay near the
north western extremity of the New Territories and to add to the
arguments already advanced certain considerations based on the
estimated defence requirements of this Colony.
2.
You are already aware that the Joint Planning Staff
of the Chiefs of Staff Committee in paragraph 13 of their Report
No. JP (46) 10 (Revised Final) dated 8th April, 1946, have
recommended that the strength of the permanent R.A.F. garrison
of this Colony should be limited to half a flying boat squadron,
and that reinforcements, if required, would be drawn from elsewhere
in the South East Asia theatre. After careful consideration of
this recommendation in consultation with the Hong Kong Defence
Committee, I informed the South East Asia Defence Committee that
this token force was not in my view adequate to the present
defence requirements of the Colony; a copy of the paper in which
this view was expressed (viz. the Hong Kong Defence Committee's
Appreciation of the Strategic Value of Hong Kong, Reference No.
P/1/140/G (F) 1, dated 4th July, 1946) was forwarded to you under
cover of my secret despatch of 14th July, 1946. Later, however, at
a meeting of the British Defence Committee in South East Asia held
on 30th August, 1946, I was informed that there was no immediate
possibility of the air garrison being increased. I acquiesced in
this on the understanding that arrangements would be made for
immediate air support should the necessity arise, for subsequent
air reinforcement and for the air lift required for the reinforce-
ment of the Army garrison. The necessity for these measures was
agreed by the members of the South East Asia Defence Committee
and their recommendations were transmitted to the Cabinet Offices
in S.A.C.S.E.A.' TOP SECRET telegram SEACOS 747 timed 060317
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
A. CREECH JONES, K.P.
1114/10
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