CO537-(205_1260-1262) — Page 293

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for the Colony can all

Lc Fleet.

its for the defence of

et from the air forces

East theatre; the disposition

thentre is a matter for

an increase in the overall

ar

rst is justified, and

3 estimate of force8

Joint Intelligence Committee

authorised.

Dorance Forces should be

A Treasury approval has

Colonial Office.

ld be invited to submit a

in the necessary accommodation

nticipation of Cabinet approvel

s size.

II be sent to C.-in-C.

mmittee should be invited to in-C. Hong Kong's appreciation erming the scale of defences

Kong over a period of the

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

act to the National Archives

CO 537/1260

Please note that the copy is sur information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' leaflet

is and conditions and thuil your use of it may be subject to copyright

restrictions. Further

N

J.I.C.(46) 7 (c) (Draft)7

00245

ANNEX I.

CO 537/1260

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

restrictions Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' leaflet e nola that this copy is supplied subject to the National Archives' terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyrigi

Draft Report by the Joint Intelligence Sub-Committee

We have been asked by the Joint Planning Staff to examine Sections II and III of an appreciation by the Commander-in- Chief, Fong long, on the Defence of ilong Kong, with a view to assessing the potential throat to Hong Kong, and commenting on the necessity for an intelligence organisation included in the Commanderin-Chief, Hong Kong's recommendations. remarks APC Fe 1ollows:-

FORCES AVAILABLE

Our

2. It is considered that, at present, no nation except China is likely to undertake to wrest Hong Kong from British hands. The U..S.R. and the U.S.A. might give China diplomatic support in any move to recover the Colony.

3.

The Chinese are singularly inept at mounting an attack and, in fact, have never scored a major success in the course of their eight years war with Japan.

4. The fighting forces at China's disposal are estimated to be briefly as follows:-

(a) Navy

The Chinese navy has never been, and is never likely

to be, an officient fighting force.

(b) Army

The most efficient troops in the present day Chinese armies are those trained and equipped by the Americans. These amount to at least 20 divisions. They are equipped with infantry weapons, but field and medium artiller is not of a high standard. Some captured Japanese A.F.V's may be available but no armoured formation has so far been identified. Air support has not been developed. If they are led, and encadré by Americans, they might put up some form of co-ordinated attack.

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