CO537-(205_1260-1262) — Page 258

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CO 537/1260

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

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restrictions Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' leaflet » note that this copy is supplied subject to the National Archives' terms and conditions and that your use of i may be subject to copyrigh

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Ref.:

CO 537/1260

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed "Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' leafel

e note that this copy is suppiled subject to the National Archives' terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright

135

for inshore patrol craft and would be readily available for service on Chinese rivers should this be called for.

5.

Amphibious Lift. Action has already been taken to place 6 L.J.T. and L.0.1. (L) in reserve at Hong Kong. An L. 3. I. (M) will not be required (seo parc. 11 bolow).

6.

Inshore Patrols. We agree that 16 II.D.M.L. will bo required temporarily for inshore patrols, to prevent the infiltration or agents and the smuggling of arms into the colony, until the local police force can take over.

7. Mino sveeping. The provision of mino swoopers cunnot be considered casential in view of the J. I. C. ostimate that mining is only likely i hostilities break out with the Contr Government of China and that the likelihood of this The in the next 10 years is so romute as to bo negligible. question of laying up reserve mineswcopers at Hong Kong, a8 an insurance, should, however, be considered when 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 uno brigade disposed as follows:-

Control of Frontier

and New Territories

Kowloon

Hong Kong Island

One Brigade Group plus

Div. Rocce, and Div. M. G. battalion

One Brig de Group loss

one battalion

Two Battalions (including

Divisional Defence Battalion)

He also states that there is a requiremont for an assault lift for one brigade for a minor set-borne expedition to the China Cost in the event of a serious deterioration of the Chine Bituation.

Comment

9. The garrison consists of two brigues at the present timo; tho Becuna brigado har. been provided primarily for police duties, since the Hon Kong Police Force is not,yot of de.jute strength. The Colonial office have stated that they have for a lon; time past regarded the recruiting and despatch of alequate reinforcements to the European Police Force in Hong Kong ao amtter of urgency and importance, and stops are being taken to this end.

10. Even when the police force has been brought up to an adoquate strength wo lo not consider that the tasks given in paragraph 1 .bove could be c ́rried out by a force of less than one brigade, since we ounsider a force of this size will bu rüquired us a deterrunt against the aspirations of local ar Lordu. 0.-in-0,, liong Kong, should take up the question of the provision of the nauseary supporting rms for this brigade direct with the War Offiga,

11. Regarding the provision of an assault force, we do not consider that we shall be called upon to mount an operation

13029/624 0.0.3. (45) 694 (0) (with in Fugle)

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