CO537-(205_1260-1262) — Page 565

00083

'ANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT

been strictly limited. fol Chalmers

No.68 Copy No. 68

raft)

CO 537/1261

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

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

restrictions

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

STAFF COMITTEE

AN ING STIFF

ISCI CF HONG KONG

he Joint Planning Staff

ructions we have examined E.. in which he forwards

it Asia Defence Committee Iong Kong.

e have consulted

mmittee's present agreed policy

of Hong Kong ia briefly as

could not be defended against

or power in occupation of the

d, long Kong should be regarded

d port as far as fixed defences

str.blishment of the local Police he present Army garrison of

ould be reduced to one brigade

with half a flying boat squadron,

cd in the colony for some

mc. Units of the British

culd provide such local naval

might be required.

CARIL, 1947

long has stated that the local

it enough to allow a reduction

.7. The South East Asia Defence

› brigades will therefore be

and 762

1 Hcuting.

00084

4. The present garrison of Hong Kong comprises 150 I.S.F. Brigade and 3 Commando Brigade. The latter under prescent plans is available until April, 1947*. 150 I.S.F. Brigade is due to return to India by the end of 1946 and we understand that negotiations 7, which are proceeding, for the extension of its atay, may not be successful. If this is the orac 3.CSA should be instructed to make such temporary arrangements as he considers appropriate in the light of the situation in Hong Kong and elsewhere in his Command, since we are unable to supply the short term replacement required for this brigede from outside S.E.A.C.

GARRISON AFTER APRIL, 1947

Ref.:

CO 537/1261

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

Ind

restrictions Further information le 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 copyrigh

Size of Garrison

5. The South East Asin Defence Committee state that since considerable quantities of modern arms have been supplied to China by both the United Kingdom and the U.S.. and much equipment has been left behind in the country by the Japanese, the nasumption made by the 0.-in-C., Hong Kong, in his appreciation, that any attacking army would be adequately equipped still applics. They therefore consider that although re-establishment of the local Police Force will allow some reduction of land ferees after April, 1947, one British bride and on field artillery regiment will still be required in the Colony to net as a visiblc deterrent, while another brigade group should be available within S...C. capable of being rapidly transported to Hong Kong in emergency.

Provision of Garrison

6. We consider that the field regiment and the reserve brigade should be provided from S... C.S...s own rescurces. It is at prouent planned that 3 Commando Brigade should remain in Hong Kong until pril, 1947, and the Chief of Combined Operations has recommended that its stay should not be extended after 31st May, 1947+. The shortage of man-pover is such, however, that consider 3 Commando Brigade should, £8 a temporary measure, and provided it can receive its Commando training, continue to assist the ..rmy in its many commitments. With this in view the Chief of the Imperial General Staff has sugested that the possibility should be examined whether 3 Commando Brigade could form the garrison of M-lta thus arking available army units of approximate equivalent strength to garrison Hong Kong.

+ 0.0.8.(46) 212

57

Government of Indie telegram 4660 anted

31st, ugust, 1946.

→ 2 4458/SD5

* SELCOS 747

( 0.0.3. (46) 147th Meeting

-2-

ๆ

Page 565Page 566