CO537-4998 — Page 118

-

EXTRACT FROM C.O.S.(49)

MEETING HEL! 8/2.

c/o

32

8.

DEFENCE OF HONG KONG.

(ТОР

SECRET)

Previous Reference:

Cos(49)15th Mtg., Min. 2)

3) (17)

Being prepared in More thong dept.

THE COMMITTEE considered an Appreciation of the situation in Hong Kong received by telegram from the British Defence (28).

Co-ordination Committee, Far East.”

There was general agreement with this Appreciation as summarised in paragraphs 11 and 12 of the telegram.

LT. GENERAL TEMPLER said that if all the three possible threats developed simultaneously Hong Kong would need a reinforcement of a Brigade Group. The Commanders-in- Chief, Far East, were making plans to send a battalion

The War Office from Malaya but could not spare any more. would have liked to forestall the development of the threats by sending out a Brigade Group now, but the fact was that there were only 4 battalions, increasing to 8 in September, available in the United Kingdom and in view of the threats' elsewhere, particularly in West Africa, it did not seem justifiable to commit this strategic reserve to Hong Kong. If the strategic reserve was not sent, all possible steps could be taken to see that it was ready to go at the shortest possible notice but it would nevertheless take about two months from the time a move was ordered before the time when the units arrived in Hong Kong. The alternative of sending reinforcements from the Middle East and replacing them by the strategic reserve from United Kingdom had been considered, but the time saved by this device would not be worth while.

MR. SIDEBOTHAM said that in his view the threats were

How quickly not likely to develop for another two months. they developed after that would depend upon whether the Communists decided to halt at the Yangtse and consolidate or to go straight ahead. In any case he thought it likely that we should have a month's warning.

The Secretary of State for the Colonies was about to circulate a paper to the Cabinet stating, in accordance with a previous decision what further steps could be taken_to strengthen our Colonial territories in Asia, and he would no doubt wish to incorporate in it the position with regard to reinforcements as disclosed in the present discussion.

In discussion there was general agreement that the risk that additional land forces would be required to meet all three threats developing simultaneously was not at present sufficient to warrant the despatch of the only available battalions from the United Kingdom, particularly in view of the possibility that they might be required elsewhere. It was also agreed that a telegram to this effect, on the lines of a draft circulated by the Vice Chief of the Imperial General Staff, and including any comments that

should were necessary about naval and air reinforcements, be despatched to the British Defence Co-ordination Committee pending a decision by the Cabinet.

SEACOS 881

(28)

+

X

CM (48) 80th Conclusions, Item 3 (4)NT