CO537-4999 — Page 187

25 MAY 1949

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Secretariat File:

TOP SECRET

L.M.D.26/49.

102

SAVINGRAM

Commissioner-General, S.E.Asia, Singapore.

Secretary, British Defence Co-ordination Committee. Far East.

Repeated: C.-in-C. Far East Station (afloat).

Secretary, Local Defence Committee, Hong Kong.

From:

Date:

4th April, 1949.

No.:

41.

940028

1.

Local Defence Committee, Hong Kong have considered FARELF telegram SEC.237 of 25th February, 1949 to Land Forces, llong Kong, repeated C.-in- C., Far East Station (afloat). We do not, repeated not consider that such a threat is likely to materialise at least until after 1st January, 1950.

2.

We have assumed that

(a) Internal unrest will precede physical attack as most likely to

be the enemy's main weapon.

(b) The present military resources, including the Air Force, of the

Nationalist Government of Chine will be united with the Communist forces.

(c) If and when the Chinese Communists consider an attack on Hong

Kong worth while, they will utilise their best troops.

The military forces required are as follows:

NAVAL:

Two cruisers:

One of these will be required for long range bombardment in support of the army● They will also be required as a source of manpower unless the civil authorities can make satisfactory arrangements for running their essential services without calling upon the Royal Navy for technical assistance and unless full crews and administrative staff are provided independently for the small craft enumerated below.

Two Operational Light Fleet Carriers:

Must be independent of Kai Tak and self contained as regards maintenance and spares. To be accompanied by four destroyers. Additionally,

Four Destroyers or Frigates: for bombardment and patrols.

Light Seaward Defence Motor Launches: for patrols.

Eight Fairmile Type B Launches: for patrols.

Twolve Auxiliary Patrol Vessels: for patras. These could be requisitioned locally.

If harbour defence becomes necessary Booms, ndicating Loops, HDAs, four Boon defence vessels, five gate vessels, eight algerine class minesweepers, six motor minesweepers must be provided. Full crews and maintenance and administrative staff must be provided for all

enumerated above.

or local resources.

They cannot be provided from station