CO537-(205_1260-1262) — Page 281

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CO 537/1260

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

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

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

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for inshore patrol craft and would be readily available for sorvico on Chinosc rivors should this be called for.

5.

Arrahibious Lift. Action has already buon taken to place 6 L. C. T. and L. C. I. (L) in roservo at Hong Kong. An L. S. I. (11) will not be required (soo para. 11 below),

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Inshore Iatrols. We agree that 16 H.D.ii.L. will be required temporarily for inshore patrols, to prevent tho infiltration of agents and tho smuggling of arms into the colony, until the local policy force can take over.

7. Hino swooping. The provision of mine swoopers cannot be considered essential in view of the J. I. C. ostimate that mining is only likely if hostilities break out with the Central (overment of China and that the likelihood of this in the next 10 years is so remote us to be negligible.

Army

8.

C.-in-C., Hong Kong, ustimates the land forces required as one division less one brigado di osod as follows :-

One Brigado Group plus

Control of Frontier

and low Territorios

Kowloon

Hong Kong Island

Div. Rocco. and Liv. ii. G. battalion

One Brigade Group less

one battalion

Two Battalions (including

Divisional Defence Battalion)

Ilo also statos that there is a requirement for an assault lift for one brigado for a minor sua-borne expedition to the China Coust in the event of c sorious deterioration of the Chinese situation.

Corrient

9. The garrison concists of two brigados at the present time; thu accond brigado hus boen providud primarily for policy duties, since the Hong Kong iolice Force is not yet of adequate strength. The Colonial Office have statoa that they have for a long time past regarded the recruiting and despatch of adequate reinforconents to the European Folico orco in Hong Kong as a matter of urgency and importance, and stops are being taken to this end.

10. Once the police forco has boon brought up to an adequate, strongth wu do not consider that more than one brigado is required to carry out the tasks givon in paragraph 1 above. C.-in-C., Hon, Kong, should take up the question of the provision of the nocussary supporting arms for this brigado direct with the War Offico.

In the ovent of an attack by China appearing inminent, it should be noscible to provide ruim'oreccnts from ulsowhere.

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

0.0.8.(45) 694 (0)

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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

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

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