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

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HONG KONG – FUTURE GARRISON

(Previous Reference: 0.0.8.(46) 137th Mts., Minute 17)

LORD MONTGOMERY said that he understood the question the future warrison of Hon¡: Kon; was under examination the Joint Plannin; Staff. He emphasised that there 'e no British troops available for a garrison in Hong

without withdrawing: them from elsewhere. He sidered that the Commando Brinde nt present stationed Hong Kong shoull be withdrawn to place suitable for inin in co-opurution with Naval and Air Units.

He gosted therefore that consideration might be given to

possibility of withdrawing the Commando Brigade to ta and sending to Hun: Kon the two Infantry Battalions presunt at Melt. to come under direct command of the Mundor-in-Chief, Hon· Kong. As a long term policy, hơ s1 lured that it should be possible to garrison Hong

with some form of gendarmeric.

SI RHODERICK MCGRIGON said that the Admiralty would ostijuto the possibility of implementing this proposal.

70

In discussion, it was ou quated that the Joint Planning ff should carry out the examination at present in hand the basis of the above proposal by the Chief of the erial General Stuff.

THE COMMITTEE:

(a) Instructed the Joint Planning Staff to examine the

quoctin of the future garřison of Hong Kong on the basic of the proposal by the Chief of the Imperial General Staff.

)Took n to that in anticipation of instructions, the

Joint Planning Staff had been invited to tako into

noe unt in the preparation f a report on the future garris n f Hong Kong, a telograme containing the views :f the British Defence Committee in South East

n the need for assault landing craft for use in the defence f Hong Kong.

¡Á SEACOS 762

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00110

Downing Street,

8.W.1.

9th

October, 1946.

69

13031/4/46 Part II.

Dear Mallaby,

We have now been able to examine the latest revise of the draft Paper by the Joint Planning staff on the future garrison of

Hong Kong (No. JP(46)179(0), and we think it

may be of assistance to the Joint Planners to have a statement of the view we take about the proposal that a local militia or gendarmerie might be raised in Hong Kong to replace at some future date the British garrison,

War office.

This suggestion originated with the

It has never been communicated to, or considerad by, the Hong Kong Government, the Hong Kong Defence Committee, or the British Defence Committee in South East Asia. We are aware of the difficulties with which the War office are faced in regard to manpower and of course raise no objection whatever to the proposal being considered on its merits at the appropriate time. But in view of the recommendation of the South East Asia Defence Committee that it should be accepted in principle that a garrison of one British brigade and a field regiment will be required in Hong Kong until conditions in China become more stable and in the absence of consultation with the local civil and military authorities we do not feel able to go further than that.

COLONEL H.G.C. MALLABY.

I

ว

On/

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restrictions Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National

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Page 605Page 606

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GARRISON

: 2.0.9.(46) 137th Mt., Minute 17)

dth the unterstood the question

·f Hon, Kon was under examination aff, Ho emphasised that there vailable for a garrison in Hong

them from clsewhere. He anlo Brigde nt present stationed ithdraw to place suitable for with Naval and Air Units. He consiluration mi ht be given to rawin the Commando Brigade to

Kon the two Infantry Battalions ome under direct command of the

Kon

As a lon turm policy, he 1 be possible to garrison Hong endarmeric.

COR said that the Admiralty would ity of implementing this proposal.

70

(8 sit,://un¢ed that the Joint Planning he uxrain:tion t present in hand

e proposal by the Chief of the

12

cms

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restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Act to copyright

int ilanning Stuff to examine the future garrison of Hong Kong on

& propesñl by the Chief of the 1 staff.

anticipati.n of instructions, the Staff had been invited tɔ tako into

proparation fa report on the future

K.ng, a telogram"c.ntaining the

itish Defenco Committoo in South East for assault landing craft for use

f Hong Kong.

3EACOS 762

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