CO537-(205_1260-1262) — Page 190

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Ref.:

CO 537/1260

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

2

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 in copyngh

00 16 1

7.

Mino sweeping The provision of mine sweepers cannot be considered essential in view of the J.I.C. estimate that mining is only likely if hostilities break out with the Central Government of China and that the likelihood of this in the next 10 years is so remoto as to be negligible. The question of laying up reserve minesweepers at Hong Kong, as an insurance, should, however, be considered whon mine clearance operations have been completed in the Far East.

ARMY

8. C.-in-C. Hong Kong, estimates the land forces required as one division less one brigade disposed as follows:-

Control of Frontier

and New Territories

Kowloon

Hong Kong Island

One Brigade Group plus

Div. Reccel and Div. M.G. Battalion

One Brigade Group less

one battalion

Two Battalions (including

Divisional Defence Battalion)

He also states that there is a requirement for an assault lift for one brigade for a minor seaborne expedition to the China Coast in the event of a serious deterioration of the Chinese situation.

Comment

9.

The C.-in-C's requirements are based on his appreciation of forces required to meet a threatened attack by a Chinese War Lord with a force of 75,000 men.

the

The present garrison consists of two brigades; second brigade has been provided primarily for police duties since the liong Kong Police Force is not yet of adequate strength. The Colonial Office have stated that they have for a long time past regarded the recruiting and despatch of adequate reinforcements to the European Police Force in Hong Kong as a matter of urgency and importance, and we understand that the Police Force should be up to strength by January 1947.

The C.-in-C's appreciation is presumably based on

a combination of the tactical requirements of the ground and the strength and armament of a potential attacker. We cannot question his views on the forces required tactically but our consultations with the J.I.C. lead us to the viow that an attack by a Chinese War Lord is exceedingly improbable if there is a garrison of the nature of a brigade in being as a deterrent.

10. Having regard to our world wide commitments and overall shortage of troops, we have recommended and the Defence Committee have approved" that the garrison should be progressively reduced as follows:-

#D.0.(46) 30

o-D.0.(46) 7th Meeting

(11)

N

Ref.:

CO 537/1260

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

1

N

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

restrictions. Further

information

is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' leaflet

Page 190Page 191

00161

ine sweepers cannot

J.I.C. estimate

os brock out with

t the likelihood

to as to be

roserve minesweepers

however, be

ns have been

land forces

.de disposed as

igade Group plus

. Reccel and Div.

, Battalion

rigade Group less

battalion

attalions (including

isional Defence

talion)

quirement for an

or secborne

vent of a serious

Ref:

CO 537/1260

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the National Archives

restrictions.

Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' leaflet

s and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyngt

ed on his

t a threatened

rce of 75,000 men.

two brigades;

rily for police

e is not yet of

the

ce have stated that

d the recruiting and

the European

of urgency and

Police Force should

sumably based on

ments of the ground

tential attacker.

orces required

the J.I.C. lead

Inese War Lord is

garrison of the

arront.

commitments and overall

ed

and the Defence rison should be