CO537-2774 — Page 10

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N' Maskin

Mr. Johnson.

Ein C. Jeffries.

Sir Thomas Lloyd.

This file is submitted so that higher authority may see the Governor's review in No. 3 of the state of efficiency of the Hong Kong Police Force, submitted in response to the Secretary of State's circular despatch at (1). I am marking through Mr. Johnson, as he will be interested, but may wish to reserve comment until he has had a fuller opportunity of studying the position.

The general review of the replies to the circular despatch of the 5th August will be sent forward by Defence Department in due course.

of the matters in which, in paragraph 10 of No. 3, the Governor asks for assistance, all but (a) have been dealt with as reported in Mr. Trafford Smith's minute. With regard to the constitution of the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps, most of the outstanding points have been cleared and the Governor has been told separately that equipment for 500 men is available on indent. We also have received a draft Ordinance relating to the Corps and this will be dealt with as expeditiously as possible. It will be seen from the last paragraph of No. 6 that the Governor intends to begin recruiting for the Corps this month.

The last paragraph of Mr. Morgan's minute of the 27th October also refers to the necessity of restoring the strength of the Hong Kong military garrison. One battalion was transferred to Malaya in August to reinforce the troops available to deal with the disorders in Malaya. The brigade in Hong Kong is thus dangerously thin, and in the Saving telegram at (7) the Governor has been informed that the Secretary of State is renewing representations to the Chiefs of Staff on this subject. Mr. Morgan is drafting a letter which will endeavour to clarify the prospects of the replacement of the battalion withdrawn in August. Whether that will be easily possible, and whether even if the brigade is restored to its full strength it will be adequate to meet the consequences of the communist southward drive in China, are questions to which, I am afraid, there is unlikely to be a satisfactory answer in the near future, owing to other calls upon U.K. forces.

Perhaps the most likely immediate threat to Hong Kong is that of an enormous increase in the number of refugees fleeing from unsettled conditions in central and south China. If that materialises, the police and security forces will be tested almost to breaking point. Apart from that, the despatch at (3), written two months ago, gave a fairly favourable account of the state of co-ordination of security and intelligence forces and the general state of efficiency of the police force.

I do not think there is anything that we can do at the moment beyond ensuring that there is no delay in any further necessary dealings about the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps, and exploring with the Chiefs of Staff the possibilities of restoring the military garrison to its authorised strength.

10. 11. 48.

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