CO537-(1262-1649) — Page 969

00068

R HONG KONG

a letter from the Colonial preparing, in conjunction int paper on the future of the Far Eastern (Official) hiefs of Staff approved, they co to the defence factor of

ico had inserted u draft

uggested that an addition to

made in the sunse that Hong Kong

fences would be introduced at

and air base in the future, and

and LIEUT.GENERAL SIMPSON

paragraph, which agreed with

f of Naval Stuff.

rood that in answering the

I points should be made:-

should be amended on

i discussion;

d that for reasons of 5 paper should have a lation;

aff attached great .cc representatives

n as it appeared in

it might appear to

aning in the paper if ntext.

ry to inform the

Their views on tho

IV (to follow)

.-8-

RECEIVED

28 NOV 1946

CO. REGY.

cms

Ref.:

CO 537/1649

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

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

69

ANNEX IV

00069

Copy of a letter (Rof: C.0.S.1439/6) dated 19th Novembor, 1946 from the Socretary Chiefs of Staff Committee to the Colonial Offico

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Ref.:

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

CO 537/1649

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

At their mouting on the 18th Novembor, 1946, the Chiofs of Staff considered your letter of the 7th November on the future Defence Policy for Hong Kong.

2.

The Chiefs of Staff agroc with the wording of the suggested reference to the defence factor in paragraph 2 of your letter, but would like to add the following two sentonces to it

3.

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"but that plans and preparations should be made to enable the necessary mobile defences to be introduced at short notice should we require to usc Hong Kong as an operational Naval and Air base in the ovont of a war in the Pacific, during which China was in friendly hands. The present and futuro garrison of Hong Kong, augmented by reinforcements from South East Asia is considerod strong enough to ropel small scale aggression by a hostile Chinese War lord."

The Chiefs of Staff fucl that the paper on tho Futuro Defence Policy for long Kong should receive only a limited circulation, as a leakage of the facts contained in it might woll cause considerable difficulties.

4. Finally, the Chiefs of Staff attach great importance to Service representatives being allowed to see the quotation as it appears in the final draft of the paper before circulation, as it may well be that the quotation might appear to have a different meaning if taken out of its context.

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