CO537-(205_1260-1262) — Page 624

NIEX

DR. FT TELEGRA

fice

00 122

of stuff

October, 1946

commendations of South East ..sia Defence ed under your S. E....C.0.8. 747 and 762.

od that a British force should romain in gendarmerie is capable of onsuring the olony, o have also agreed that the

of the garrison should be retained until becomes fully re-ustablished in April.

n C.-in-C. India is negotiating for the I.3.F. Brigade until April 1947. Battalers.

o oxchange 3 Commando Brigade with army

coon as practicable thereby making

antry bite, which together with a 11 form the garrison of Hong Kong after u should confirm that you can provide

t and earmark an infantry brigade as

own resources.

now in Hong Kong are lease-lond craft ned to merican authorities.

Wo agree

L.C.T. ' shall be retained at Hong Kong. he provision of maintenance personnel

by the admiralty.

-6-

13031/4

00 123

TOP SECRET CYPHER TELEGRAM

RECEIVED BY O.T.P.

IZ 4241. TOO 2701252.

TOR 271455Z.

Ref:

CO 537/1261

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

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

N

IMMEL STE

FROM

S.A.C.S.E.A.

ΤΟ

: CABINET OFFICES.

SEACOS 762.

1.

27th September, 1946.

For Chiefs of Staff from Stopford. Reference SEACOS 747 TOO 060317 September.

East

The British Defence Committee in South Asia at a meeting on 26th September considered Governor of Hong Kong signal TOO 240048 repeated to the Secretary State for the Colonies as HK 1123 and I have been asked to represent the views of the Committee.

2.

The Committee considers that, unless landing craft for a battalion lift are available at Hong Kong, the minimum requirements for the defence of Hong Kong will not be meʊ. It therefore strongly supports the request by the Governor of Hong Kong that the six landing craft tank and six landing craft infantry (large be retained at Hong Kong.

3.

The Commander-in-Chief British Pacific Fleet also supports this request but points out that crews for manning the craft could not be provided from his resources. Adequate care and maintenance parties are required permanently to avoid deterioration of the craft. The British Defence Committee in South East Asia requests that crows may be provided from sources other than British Facific Flitet.

CIRCULATION

Defence Office

Foreign Office

First Sea Lorc

Messago Control, W.0.

A.M.C.S.

C.0.0.

Secretary of State Colonies

TOO 270125Z.

Secretary of State Dominions Secretary of State India

General Šir A.G.O. Mosley Maynu

Major Gillespie.

D

1. ¡946

า

1

cm

N

2

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