CO537-(205_1260-1262) — Page 577

00090

Ref:

DIX II

the Colonial Office

stel 21th Lugust.

delay in answering your letter ily on the subject of the Hong

raised required some

from that I have been on leave

Chiefs of Storr have agreed ileration of the "roposal to

rot Hong Kong, and the policy

alegren C3.1403 of the 3rd April,

remain, ao now, at two

e when the police force of

ished.

oint that it would take some

of a scheme for a gondarmerie

1 that there are some aspects

oment of troops by a gendarmerie

retion before going into the

s been prepared by the Hong

tain Defence questions which

si orction by the South East Ala

a com of this apareciation

eceived from the Governor of

return it when you have only copy)

It takes the form Report br the Joint Planning

co Vien (J.2. (46) 10 (Final) (Revise))

proved by the Chiefs of Staff

You will see that the Hong Accept the view that sporadic as a result of internal unrest renat improb-blo. They state

Chce there is consi·lerud to be ac: by Chinese Wer Lords, the

leterioreting and renewed

sts Communists may well be

1 War Low in uipped with

tia immossile to proliet this the heal. On the question of

1 l in Hong Kon, hey express

.lu Bt. licc and volunteer

fully traini, the minimum gorrison

ricades Recitato

CO 537/1261

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

upplied subject to the National Archives' term and conditions and that

restrictions

be subject

that its core information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives Reflect copyrigh

nt. Forces are in a position to

al the movent of Chinese troops

wever, they consider that it would

the move brinca cnd one

from 1...'. reserve and not

oncl in the Colony.

to Colonial Office.

N

་

00091

Ref

CO 537/1261 THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

N

restrictions Further Information is 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 copyright

5.

This is a very 1ifferent "icture from thot reflected in the Joint Planners' Report, and it seems to us to put the whole mette in now erspective. The Hong Kong Defence Committco state the effective strongth of the present gorrison is et a aurioient deterrent to attack by a Chinese War Lord. It any not be an unfair inference that the total withdrawal of the British gorzison might in itself encourage or provoke such on attack, ani if it were to develop on the scale wich the Lourd Committee envisago no gendermeric coull be expected to resist it successfully. Vo fully ronlise the unde present conditions of man-power shortage solar risks ust to token but neither the

Chiefs of Staff nr the Dotcnce Comittee have hitherto had the vantare of considering this roblem in the light of a detailed surve: by the Service and civil authorities in Hong Kong, and we hope you will agree that it would be premature to tackle the question of Establishing a local gendarmerie lesing to tok the place of the garrison Until this new surv. hes be a culty ex-mined.

6. South Pact Tele Definee Committer will no doubt soon be giving their eminta on the Hong Kong Committee's Report. "hun timenu ara mecivel, they, together with the Report, will proquer bly came before the Chiefs of staff, in the circumcteious we should ropose the the question of the genlermeri choul stawi over until the Chiefs of Stoff have considered them.

7. The two other c Arthur lucs in cortant factors which ought, wat in, to be given some consideration bofore my lotailed site for a read-Puric is prepared concern man-power and finance. To do not suc tht there would be en rust prving in ritish 3-n-power if the gendermeric were, like the Palentine Palice, to contain

high proportion * Luxapcens, 3 those Durpeans would probably be sclcted from arrving solliers or young mon about to be enlles us for du forces; am, on fincace, Hong Kong is rat-idea the Treasury Toull have to be consulted in regard to the cost of th. ginlarmerie.

They may take the line tt glee the cest of raising the gondarmerie would in elect fall on the Pitish" taxpayer, they would have to be satisfied that it was quite impossible for troops to he retaine1 in Hong Kong, at any rate so long as the Colony is "ruct-aidel.

8. If we are to go her now with the operation of

a detailel schem for o rcni-rmeric, we should, ns a first step, consult the Governer, who is of course very fully occupied at the moment. ut I hope thrt in view of tho reasons given above, you will agroc thint the matter should not be pursucl, et en rete for the present.

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