CO537-(205_1260-1262) — Page 288

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CO 537/1260

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

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00241

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issued for the personal use of

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THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

CO 537/1260

nols that this copy es supplied saion is given in the encicsed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' leaflet.

" Archives' terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copynigh

restrictions Further information

JOL-

J.P. (46) 10 (s) (Freliminary Draft)

24TH JANUARY, 1946.

CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE

JOINT PLANNING STAFF

HONG KONG DEFENCE PLAN

Draft Report by the Joint Planning Staff

+

We have examined an appreciation by the Commander-in- Chief, Hong Kong of the defence requirements of Hong Kong and the New Territories for the next 5 years.

2. We consider that atomic warfare will not have been sufficiently developed during the period unler review for it to have much effect on our defence plans; any plan made during this period is bound, therefore, to be of an interim nature, since the latest developments in weapons are likely

In addition, to have profound effects on our global strategy. until our report on "Service Commitments between 1947 and 1951" has been approved by the Cabinet, it will not be possible to give Commander-in-Chief Hong Kong more than a provisional reply. C.-in-C. Hong Kong's Appreciation

3. C. -in-C. Hong Kong assumes that a major war between the powers is unlikely for the next five years and that in any case he considers that Hong Kong is indefensible against

No a major power in possession of the Mainland of China. provision is, therefore, made for defence against a major attack.

We agree with these views. In this connection we do not consider that China constitutes a major power, at any rate at present.

C.-in-C. Hong Kong's appreciation

4. Scale of Threatened attack. is based on the followin factors:-

(a)

No nation except China is likely to attack Hong Kong. The declared policy of the Central Government is to recover the colony by diplomatic means, and in their efforts they may receive diplomatic support from the U.S.. and U.S.S.R.

+ No. 58/2 of 24th December, 1945.

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