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DRAFT TELEGRAM

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From:

Cabinet Office

To:

C.-in-C. Hong Kong.

Following fran Chiefs of Staff.

Reference your No. 58/2 dated 24th December, 1945. Defence Plan for Hong Kong.

2. We agree that a major war is unlikely during the next five years and that Hong Kong is indefensible against a major power in possession of the Chinese mainland.

Although we should defend Hong Kong against attack by China alone, the likelihood of this is so remote that we do not consider the scale of forces to be maintained permanently in Hong Kong noed allow for this eventuality. Should a Chinese attack later appear possible it would be necessary

to reinforce the garrison temporarily, and your Defence Plan should allow for this possibility.

3. We consider that the duties of the forces stationed at Hong Kong will be:-

4.

(a) To provide an armed backing to assist the

Police in maintaining internal security.

(b) To counter a potential threat of external

attack on a minor scale and to control the frontier.

(c) To uphold British prestige and as a deterrent to Chinese aspirations.

In the light of the above, comments on your requirements are as follows.

5.

Navy. We agree generally with your Naval requirements for the defence of Hong Kong.

The

In view of improbability of minelaying however we do not consider the provision of the 4 B.Y.M.S. essential. proposed reduction in army forces and the improbability of hostilities with the Central Government of China will render the requirement for an L.S.I.(M) unnecessary.

We agree that four destroyers or frigates will be required to operate from Hong Kong. The British Pacific Fleet will however be based on Hong Kong and it is more convenient that this duty should be undertaken, for the present, by ships detached from the British Pacific Fleet rather than by forming a special local defence flotilla.

6. Army. Once the police force has been brought up to an adequate strength we do not consider that more than one brigade is required. You should take up with the War Office the question of the necessary supporting arms.

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note that this c

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THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

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

via supplied subject to the National Archives' larms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright