CO537-4999 — Page 270

(a) should, however, a large-scale Communist threat develop, further reinforcements of the following order would be required:·

1.

Navy:

Army:

One aircraft carrier

One division of frigates

One division .

Air Force: One fighter squadron

One fighter bomber, squadron.

see addition

at 76 to be read here

It is particularly important that an early decision be taken to despatch the composite A.A. regiment mentioned in paragraph 3(c)(i) above. There are at present no A.A. defences in Hong Kong, but, in spite of the poor quality of any possible threat, it is considered that some such defence should be provided for the following reasons:

(a)

(10)

(c)

to maintain the morale of the population of the

Colony, particularly the Chinese element;

as a deterrent to an attack;

to ensure that, if an attack is made, it meets with

opposition, thus tending to increase any lack of Cetermination to press the attack home, and to prevent further attacks.

Economic Blockade

5.

Our report does not deal with the threat of an economic land blockade and the effect that this would have on the food supplies of the population of Hong Kong. We under- stand that there are at present considerable stocks of rice in the Colony and that the bulk of the food supplies for Hong Kong normally comes in by sea. A commitment to supply the population entirely by sea under the conditions that would exist if an economic blockade was declared would, however, have serious implications on the shipping problem.

Recommendation

6.

We recommend that:

(a) Authority now be given for the despatch of the

reinforcements and other action mentioned in paragraph 3(c) above.

(10) We should be instructed to report from time to time on the military developments in Southern China, with particular reference to the scale of the threat to Hong Kong.

(c)

We should be instructed to consider how the

additional reinforcements indicated in paragraph 3(a) above could be provided should a large scale Communist threat to Hong Kong develop.

(signed) TEDDER

FRASER V.J. SLIM

3rd May, 1949.

-2-

Page 270Page 271