CO537-4998 — Page 144

TOP SECRET.

9400928

Government House,

Hong Kong.

19

20th January, 1949.

din 54389 for actio

My dear Sidebotham,

iy (c)

I enclose three documents which were hand ed to me yesterday by MacIntosh (Commissioner of Police). One is an Appreciation of the requirements for the defence of Hong Kong prepared in November. Another is the report of an Army exercise which took place recently which he says) disclosed a most disturbing state of unpreparedness of the military forces here for the kind of role which they might have to perform in the event of trouble here.

2.

The third document is a photostat of a recently seized expose of the policy of the C.C.P.

3.

1.2. (B)

I have not myself had time to read these documents although I have, of course, had a brief account of their contents from MacIntosh. But I think you ought to have them on record in the Colonial Office, and I should myself like to have another look at them when I get Home.

4.

I should say that when he handed me these documents MacIntosh repeated his assurance that the military authorities here do now appreciate to the full the kind of role which they might have to perform and the state of unpreparedness of their forces at present, but also their determination to rectify this position with all possible speed.

Yours ever,

J. B. Sidebotham, Esq., C.M.G.,

Colonial Office,

London.

John

Россий

SCEIV

-5 FEB 1948 C.O. R