Z
ANNEX I
Copy of Telegram No. 113, dated 5th February, 1949 from the Governor of Hong Kong to the Secretary of State for the Colonies
My telegram No. 1087 of 1948 repeated by savingram No. 37 to the Commissioner General and my telegram No. 84 repeated by savingram No. 16 to Commissioner General Singapore, paragraph 2.
Wiring of frontier.
1. Survey now completed. In the event of refugee threat, essential minimum of wiring could be done in four days, Additional wiring, considered desirable but not vital, would take further ten days.
2. Local Defence Committee now consider and I agree that no wiring should be done even under pretext of Customs Agreement until threat appears imminent. Reasons for the view are
(a) short time required to carry out wiring.
See paragraph 1.
(b)
once wiring is done police or troops will have to be allotted to guard it.
3.
(c)
erection of wire would cause uneasiness in border area and might lead to incidents.
Land Force stocks of wire sufficient for the task but would be left with inadequate reserves. I am now ordering fresh stocks through Crown Agents and should be grateful if you would press for high priority. At present they forecast three to six months delivery. Reference is Crown Agents for the Colonies unnumbered telegram of 27th January to Controller of Stores, Hong Kong.
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