CO537-(205_1260-1262) — Page 74

00061

that the

for the

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Wt. 49614/483 3/46 80m. S. & S. Ltd.

13031/4/46

C. O.

Mr... Mayle

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Mr. Acheson

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Mr. Lloyd

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Parly. U.S. of S.

Secretary of State.

TOP SECRET

52

DRAFT. LETTER.

24 August, 1946.

For Sir George Gater's signature

Ref.:

ó subject to the National

CO 537/1260

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

bur use of it may be subject to copynghi

Fase note that this further informatie in the enclovead Terms and Conditions of supply of National Art

restrictions F

N

MAJOR-GENERAL C.S. SUGDEN, C.B., C.B. E.,

DIRECTORATE OF MILITARY OPERATIONS,

WAR OFFICE.

enclosure to (46) in orig. for return

FURTHER ACTION.

(47)

(24)

I must apologise for the delay in

answering your letter M.0.12/BM/1105 of the

31st July on the subject of the Hong Kong

garrison. The question raised required some

consideration here, and apart from that

I myself have been on leave for a few days.

As I understand it, the Chiefs of

Staff have agreed for the present to defer

consideration of the proposal to withdraw

as now,

all British forces from Hong Kong, and the

policy remains as laid down in COS telegram

Oz1403 of the 3rd April, namely that the garrison will remain at two brigades at present but be reduced to one when the

police force of the Colony is fully

re-established.

While appreciating the point that it

would take some time to work out the details

of a scheme for a gendarmerie to replace the troops, we feel that there are some aspects of the question of the replacement of troops by a gendarmerie which require further

consideration before going into the details.

Firat

cm's

CO 537/1260

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVEŠ

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 copyng?