CO537-(205_1260-1262) — Page 155

00129

Ref.:

CO 537/1260

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

N

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 bo progressivoly roduced from its present strength of two Brigades. Tho first stage in thic ruduction should be reached by January 1947 when the strength of thu local police force should be sufficiont to allow a reduction to onu Brigado. Reduction below this strength should bo 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 mado.

(c) detachment of half & Flying Buct Squadron

is sufficient ir garrison for the Colony, reinforcements, if required, being drawn from elsewhere within the theatro.

The provision of fighter, ... and naval

defouces are affected only by our long torm policy of providing for the possible nood to uso Hong Kong as an operational naval and air brae. Those parts of C.-in-C. Hong Kong's defunco plan should, therefore, bu examinod by the Defence of Bases Committee and the service Ministries.

(a) The establishment of a Joint Intelligenco

Committee at Hong Kong should be authorised.

(e) The question of the formation of volunteer or auxiliary Forces including a police reservo should be conaidurod by the thrco Sorvico Ministries and the Colonial office.

Recommendations

9.

We recommend that:-

(a) copy of this paper should be sent to

0.-in-C. Kong Kong.

(b) The Dufunce of Tases Committee should bo

invitoa to recommend the scale of defencos 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 reserve should be considered by tho three Service Ministrios 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, 8.0.1.

8TH APRIL, 1946.

J.H.N. POETT

J.H. EDWARDES-JONES

-4-

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