002 13
PLAN
ence Sub-Committee
Planning Staff to
>preciation by the
e Defence of Hong Kong,
al threat to Hong Kong,
an intelligence
ior-in-Chief, Hong Kong's
follow-
nt, no nation except
st Hong Kong from British var between China und
is so remote as to be
Orucover the Colony
Ive China diplomatic support.
pt at mounting an attack
jor succuss in the
1 Japan.
disposal are estimated
been, and is never
ent fighting force.
002 14
1 2
cms
Ret
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In
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and that your use of it may be subject to copyright
Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the National Archives' larms and conditions of supply of National Archives Hallet.
restrictions. Further information is given in li
J
(c)
but the Chinese are known to be in possession
of an American trained Parachute Reginont: this regiment has not so far had battle xperience. Without American aid, the Chinese Army would be ineffective against truined troops, and in the unlikely event of war between Great Britain and China, we consider that American personnel would not participato on the side of China.
Air Force
Severe
It is estimated that, at present, China has
available 400 first line aircraft to which total are being added approximately 400 Japanese and at least 300 modern American planes. limitations would be imposed on their operational nзe by poor servicing, once American supervision is withdrawn. It is considered that, under these conditions, air support for military operations could not be Bustained but would be limited to sporadic raids, which would be ineffective in face of opposition. The danger of mining by aircraft 1 considered negligible.
POLITICAL FACTORS
Past
* 5. The declared policy of the Central Government is to
recover Hong Kong by diplomatic means. This policy has been maintained since Japan's surrender, and was reaffirmed by Chiang Kai-shek in a speech on 24th August, 1945. uxperience and present indications suggest, however, that the Chinese will not confine themselves to purely diplomatic menna in bringing pressure to bear for the recovery of Hong Kong. For example, a propaganda campaign to recover the colony for China has already been experienced
It is
in a mild i orm, and has recently been reinforced by a press agitation arising out of the displacement of Chinese.from the site of a new airfield in the New Territories. considered that the campaign will be maintained and intensified by the Central Government as a natural prelude and adjunct to press ura by diplomatic means for the recovery of the Colony, This pressure is likely to be directed in the first place against the New Territories, a formal claim for whose retrocession is to be expected in the near future.
POSSIBLE FORMS OF ATTACK
6. (A)
Direct assault by land on the Frontier of the New Territorios. There might also
be some unco-ordinated and limited mining by junks.
(B) Ineffective air raids on Port or Military installations, which may, however, have some effect on civilian morale.
(C) Individual raids by pirates for personal
gain.
(D) Sporadic Guerilla raids as the result of internal unrest or civil war in China.
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cms
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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 to copyright
in the present day
trained and equipped by ount to approximately mber about 390,000
uipped with infantry
ield and medium artillery. rtillery personnol is
Some captured
avriluble but a co-
oured formations is
has not been developed
7
Page 255Page 256
002 14
to be in possession rachute Regiment: far had bottle
rican aid, the
ffective against
e unlikely event
ain and China, we
rsonnel would not
f China.
esent, China has
aircraft to which total
tely 400 Japanese and
can planes.
sed on their
Severe
ervicing, once ithdrawn. It is
ese conditions, air ations could not be
mited to sporadic
ffective in face of
of mining by aircraft
al Government is to
This policy has
r, and was reaffirmed
August, 1945. Past gest, however, that
s to purely
to bar for the
"
a propaganda campaign
ready been experienced
reinforced by a pres8 ent of Chinese. from Territories.
aintained and
It is
•
as a natural prelude means for the
e is likely to be
e New Territories, a
to be expected in
he Frontier of
ere might also
d limited mining
rt or Military
however, have
orale.
for personal
the result of war in China.
-
Ref.:
CO 537/1260
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
5
~
restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archivas' leaflet.
to the National Archives' terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyrigh
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