CO537-(205_1260-1262) — Page 188

00 158

is likely loped s

1t of

outh China

t of civil

police

cossary to tors.

nitions Hong Kong

power in

11 not, therefore, rees or defences

rrun and lost.

which we should

val and air base

China was in

:s inst

moved into

10 some way as

ch it was

ing male to

at short notice.

our future policy

lefonde port

urity, co a

to an attempt at

ill be require

uties in

8 available

size of the

1 to keep

as Hong Kong elsewhere

© previous

n-C. Hong Kong's

0:-

ong Kong

tection,

of piracy

in

age be

ich woul1

18 bo

Ref.:

CO 537/1260

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

2

restrictions. Further informabon 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 copyrigh

ļ

00159

(b) The Army garrison should be progressivoly 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 ono Brigade. Reduction below this strength should be possible thereafter but this will depend upon the situation in China, and wo are unable to forecast the stages by which this reduction might be made.

(0)

detachment of half & Flying Boat Squadron is sufficient air garrison for the Colony, reinforcements, if required, being drawn from elsewhere 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 use Hong Kong as an operational naval and air base. Those parts of C.-in-C. Hong Kong's defenco plan should, therefore, be examined by the Defence of Bases Committee and the Service Ministries.

(d) 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 reserve should be considered by the three Servico Ministries and the Colonial Office.

Recommendations

9. We recommend that:-

(a) copy of this paper should be sent to

C.-in-C. Hong Kong.

(b) The Defence of Bases Committee should bo

invited to recommend the scale of defences 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 resorve should be considered by the thrce Service Ministries and the Colonial Office.

Offices of the Cabinet and

Minister of Defence, S.W.1.

4TH APRIL, 1946.

-4-

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' terme and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copynghi