00206
Saving regard to our world wide commitments and overall shortage of troops we recommend that the garrison should be reduced to one brigade directly the re- establishment of the Police Force peruits; this should be possible in the fairly near future, but it is impossible at presont to estimate when the internal sitution in Ching will have become sufficiently quiet to enable any reduction below this level to be unde
10.
Regarding the provision of on coscult force, we do not consider that we shall be called upon to mount an operation of any size against Chinese territory, no mattor how serious the loteriuration in the Chinese situntion.
o not, therefore, consider that the provision of c. brigade lift is required ct Hong Kong.
Thoro night, however, be a requirement for landing small forces on the islands of the Colony itself to ensure internl cecurity. Cortrin lending craft (see paragraph 5 above) will be at Hong Kong in Care and liaintenence, and could be used when required.
Air ForceD
11.
The C.-in-C. iong Toni, considers that the following measures for rir defence are essential :-
() Air forces consisting of :-
(i) 1 .E. Fiter Saudron with
P.. clement bodied.
(ii) A detachment of 3 win-engined
Night Fighters.
(iii) A Long Range General Reconnaissance
Squadron
(iv) Detachments of rircraft for
meteorological, air sen rescue and Comunicat on duties.
(b) Efficient rear cover.
(c) Fighter operations roon, filter room and
G.G.I. Incilities.
(a) Anti-aircraft defence
(e) Pacilities for air lift
(f) A reinforcement plan
Comment
12.
•
C.-in-C. ong kon's recommendations are based on
the assumption that enemy air attacks night be made by mixed forations or low fighting; ability, consisting of 30 to 40 bonbors escorted by 12 to 15 mixed fighters. Annex I shows that this scale of attack is unlikely to antorialise. We do not, therefore, consider that there is justification for the size of air forces which the C.-in-C. recomiends.
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سا
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Ref:
CO 537/1260
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVEŠ
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