CO537-4998 — Page 52

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Mr. Trafford Smith

9/001/28 6058

I went to the Director of Plans' meeting this morning. Some very interes- ting points emerged, viz. their conclusion that Hong Kong can and ought to be defended against any form of Chinese attack by an organised Nationalist force or by guerilla bands. They were, I think, going to recommend that further air reinforcements should be sent to Hong Kong at once from Malaya, that a second Brigade Group should be made available, and also that an aircraft carrier should be made available in the event of any attempt by an organised Communist army.

I was in some difficulty at the meeting as the Chiefs-of-Staff had already had a preliminary meeting of some sort and, in addition to the J.I.C. paper, copy of which I return herewith and which was discussed at the meeting at which Mir. Seel was present this morning, thes also had certain preliminary conclusions reached by the Chiefs-of-Staff under con- sideration. One of the points which was emphasised during the meeting was that in point of fact the Communists had succeeded in making us dissipate our forces, but this fact had got to be faced, and that it might well be that the first trial of strength with the Communists would come in Hong Kong and not anywhere in the West.

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29.4.1949.