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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT

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Copy No.

23.

C.O. S. (46)102(0)

28TH MARCH 1946

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CO 537/1260

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14

CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE

FUTURE GARRISON OF HONG KONG

Note by the War Office

136

The Chiefs of Staff invited the War Office

to examine a telegram from C.-in-C. Hong Kong giving his recommendation that there should be no reduction in the present strength of the garrison and that a regiment of Field Artillery should be despatched to reinforce the Colony.

2.

3.

At present the garrison of Hong Kong consists of :-

(a) One Indian Infantry Drigade;

(b) One Commando rigade. This Brigade is the joint responsibility of the Admiralty, War Office, and Chief of Combined Operations; it is understood that its retention in Hong Kong until April, 1947 is acceptable to all.

It

is pointed out, however, that it may not be possible to maintain it at full strength for the whole of this period.

A regiment of Field Artillery cannot be made available except at the expense of another theatre

and the reasons given for its despatch do not appear to justify this.

4.

The Defence Committee have now ruled that Hong Kong will not in future be regarded as a defended port and that, as soon as the European Police Force is sufficiently re-established, the Garrison will be reduced to one brigade; meanwhile, however, the two Brigades may be retained.

The iolice Force will not be able to assume its full responsibilities until January, 1947 and it will therefore be necessary to retain one Infantry Brigade and one Commando Brigade until that date.

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