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THIS DOCUMENT 18 THE FROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT
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38
D.0.(46)30
187 MARCH, 1946
CABINET
DEFELICE COMMITTEE
KUTURE DEFENCE POLICY FOR HONG KONG
Report by the Chiefs of Staff
It will be necessary in the near future to decide on
our future policy for the defence of Hong Kong in order that any military requirements may be included in the plan for re-building the Colony.
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by
The last decision on this subject was that taken the Committee of Imperial Defence in 1938 that the defence policy for Hong Kong should, for the time being be limited to onsuring the defonce of the island itself, thus denying the use of the anchorage to an onomy.
2. We do not consider that under modern conditions Hong Kong can be dofonded against attack by a major power in Occupation of the Chinese mainland. We should not, therefore, lock up in Hong Kong against auch attack forces or defences which will either not be required or else be overrun and lost.
3. Circumstancos might, however, arise in which we should require to use Hong Kong as an operational naval and air base in the event of a war in the Pacific, in which China was in friendly handa. In that event mobile defences against attack from a distanco by aca or air, could be moved into Hong Kong or installed at short notice, in the same way as would be done for any advanced base from which it was decided to operato, plans and preparations being made to enable the necessary defences to bo introduced at short notice.
4. We therefore propose that our futuro defence policy for Hong Kong should be to regard it as an undefended port, so far as fixed defences are concerned.
5. We consider however that, to ensure internal security, as a protection against piracy, and as a deterrent to an attempt at incursion by Chinese guorillas, forces of the order of one brigade and half a flying boat squadron will be required for some considerable time, units of the British Pacific Fleet providing such local naval co-operation in these tasks as may be required. The prosont garrison of two brigades should be roduced to enu brigado directly the re-establishment of the Police Foreo permits.
SEA PARA 3
of flamma 6.
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We request the Dofo oc Committee to approve this policy.
(Signed)ALANBROOKE
Offi.33 of the Cabinet and
Minister of Defenco, S.W.1.
18T MARCH, 1916.
CUNNINGHAM OF HYNDHOPE TEDDER
C.ID. 329th Meeting of 19th July, 1938. Enclosure to th 62/4/16E/38
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