CO537-4998 — Page 268

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VIENS OF COM ANDERS-IN-CHILE

Forces Available to Meet the Threat Contd.

(v) On Brigade Group available at short notice to reinforce Hong-Kong in

mergency,

Noto:-

This cannot be done until present chergency in Malaya clasus and ufun then would depend upon the re- tention in the theatre of the

quivalent of One Brigado hold specially to meet the emergency,

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COLONIAL OFFICE VIEFS

OUR COMMENTS

R.A.F.

One Fighter Squadron

(ii) On Flying Boat Squadron.

(iii) P.R. Elament.

(iv) Tranport Element (for supply

dropping.)

R.A.F.

Wo agree with the C's-in-C estimate of

the R.A.F. requirement.

The fighter

squadron should suffice to maintain civilian morale if an occasional hostile aircraft was scen.

(c) R.N.

Available ships of the Far East Station (for fire support).⋅

Note:-

A.0.P. will be required"

R.N.

Wo agree with the Colonial Office as to the difficulty of preventing illegal untry by sea and consider that the Governor, advised by the Naval C-in-C, should be asked for an appreciation on the best method to prevent illegal entry by sea.

3. Refugee Problem

The importance of preventing an influx of refugees is stressed, since this would greatly increase the internal security and administrative commitments of the colony

Saturation point will be reached when the existing population is increased by another 100,000 although 250,000 refugees could be supported for a short time.

Closing the frontier will involve the use of wire to ounalise entry, out serious objections exist to beginning wiring except in places where it could be don ostensibly for other reasons.

Erfective closure would involve use of three infantry battalions in addition to Police and H.K.D.F.

If bloodshed resulted from closure

of froutier, serious internal repercussions would result.

Fully effective closure of the

sea frontier would be difficult and would requir. considerable service assistance.

Wo.consider that the refugee problem is the most immediate threat to the Colony, whether or note accompanied by strikos; the military authorities must clearly co-operate in chucking the influx of refugees.

All possiblu measures to chuck the influx

should be taken forthwith and the civil and militar, authorities must tackle this problem together as a matter of urgency, In particular the advisability of erecting wire now should be re-examined by the civil aná military authoticies.

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