CO537-(205_1260-1262) — Page 154

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21 times and is likely itution developed no

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ivil war in South China

In the event of civil

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ior modern conlitions Hong Kong

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Poo! that our future policy it na an unofonte port acorno 1.

Ref.

CO 537/1260

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

N

restrictions Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Condillions of supply of National Archives' laat

that this copy is supplied subject to the National Archives' terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright

cint.mal socurity, 20 a

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suppression of piracy

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Ref.:

CO 537/1260

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

1

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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

(b) The Army garrison should be progressively reduced from its present strength of two Brigades. The first stage in this reduction should be reached by January 1947 when the strength of the local police force should be sufficient to allow a reduction to one Brigade. Reduction below this strength should be possible thereafter but this will depend upon the situation in China, and we are unable to forecast the stagus by which this reduction might be made.

(c)

detachment of half & Flying Bort squadron is sufficient air garrison for the Colony, reinforcements, if required, being drawn from elsowhere within the theatre.

The provision of fighter, ... and naval

defences are affected only by our long term policy of providing for the possible need to uau Hong Kong as an operational naval und air br.se. Those parts of C.-in-C. Hong Kong's dofence plan should, therefore, bu examined by the Defence of Bases Committee and the service Ministries.

(a) The establishment of a Joint Intelligenco

Committee at Hong Kong should be authorised.

() The question of the formation of volunteer or auxiliary Forces including a police reserve should be considered by the threo Servico Ministries and the Colonial officu.

Recommendations

9.

We recommend that:-

(a) copy of this paper should be sent to

C.-in-C. Hong Kong.

(b) The Dufunce of Fuses Committee should be

invited to recommend thy scale of defuncos to be provided for Hong Kong to implement our long term policy, taking this paper into account.

(c) The question of the formation of volunteer or auxiliary Forces including a police reservo should be considered by the three Service Ministries and the Colonial Office,taking into account any decisions that may arise on (b) above. (Signed) J.F. STEVENS

Offices of the Cabinet and

Minister of Defence, S..1.

J.H.N. POETT

J.H. EDWARDES-JONES

..

8TH APRIL, 1946.

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