CO537-(205_1260-1262) — Page 43

00038

hafte

C

10 Sept. 1946

nowledge receipt

tch No. 1926/45 T.C.

forwarding a

1

ed by the Hong Kong

1/140/G(F)1

a telegram from the

Hall

Ref:

CO 537/1260

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

N

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

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 copynigh

"WL. 40614/485 3/46 50m. S. & S. Lid.

13031/4/46

00039

C. Q.

8.2/9.

M. Lt. Col. Chalmers,

Mr. Aches fa- but are minetti

Mr.

Mr...

Mr.

DRAFT.

Permt. U.S. of S.

Parly. U.S. of S.

Secretary of State.

TOP SECRET.

Semi-official letter,

B

Raf

CO 537/1260

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

use of it may be i

restrictions Further information is given in the enclosed Terms of Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the National Archives Gems and Conditions of supply of National Archives' loallet

Sir Mark Young,

K.C.M.G.

Die venuta be able B cact

uitable by the

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for mamitianu

May and RAFE,

of recess

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Their muggolian assured that Who Collane veneto not for saatjautrā to any greath

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and a possible attempt() moueren by Chenowe querillas.

FURTHER ACTION.

I am writing with reference to your

Despatch No. 1926/45 T. C. of the 14th July,

regarding the Defence Plan for Hong Kong, in

order to let you know the present situation here. You will be aware that the Defence Committee have approved a policy that Hong Kong should be regarded as an undefended Port and that it could not be defended against a major power in

It could occupation of the mainland of China.

however, be used as an operational Naval and Air base in a war in the Pacific in which China was

in friendly hands.

As a result of this policy and the stringent

Accably manpower situation the War Office have put forward the suggestion that, as a long term policy, Army formations should be entirely withdrawn,

the local defence of the Colony against guerillas and paiders being undertaken by local salesā gendarmerie with British Officers and N.C.08 The Chiefs of Staff have considered the question on various occasions, the last being on the 25th July, 1946, when they invited the War Office to raise with the Colonial Office, the question of the recruitment, strength and composition of/Hong Kong They migrated however, Police Force, bearing in mind their recommendation

that

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