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1. PROVISION OF LANDING CRAFT FOR HONG KONG

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THE COMMITTEE had before them a telegram from the Commanders-in-Chief, Far East, asking for landing craft to be supplied for the support of operations in the defence of Hong Kong.

MAJOR-GENERAL REDMAN said that when General Festing_was previously in Hong Kong he had provided in his Defence Plan for lifting a battalion in landing craft. He was now evidently reiterating the need for this lift. The Commanders-in-Chief Far East, however, considered that the provision of a lift for two Infantry Companies, with some supporting arms, would be adequate and he felt that we should try to meet this. Besides the use in operations by sea against areas difficult of access by land, landing craft could help in transporting troops and stores up to the forward areas on the mainland.

SIR GEORGE CREASY said that the Chiefs of Staff had considered the question of the provision of landing craft when they were discussing the reinforcements to be sent to Hong Kong originally and had decided that local resources should be relied on. Since, however, the need for these craft had been put forward after local consideration, the requirement should be given further attention. 6 L.C.AS. had recently been sent with the Commando Brigade and would be manned by Royal Marine personnel. Without paying off one or more ships into reserve it would not be possible to provide crews for any further landing craft and these would therefore have to be found from local resources. He questioned whether it would not be possible to hire or requisition some landing craft locally which must have been left after the war and which were now being worked by civilians. The business of sending landing craft particularly L.C.T. (8) s. out to the Far East would not be

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MAJOR-GENERAL WILDMAN-LUSHINGTON said that the important thing for the defence of Hong Kong was to give the Commander there a balanced lift. At present there was no means of transporting vehicles, and he recommended that, at least, some L.C.M. should be sent. To man the full numbers of landing craft asked for, the total personnel required would be in the order of 16 officers and 167 ratings, about half of whom would be Royal Marines. They had been considering putting out of commission one of the two L.S.Ts. in the Mediterranean, and the crew from this might be used to assist in making up the numbers required. The 6 L.C.As. would only give a personnel lift of 180; at least 4 more would be required for the two Infantry Companies.

In discussion, it was agreed that it would be difficult to send out the L.C.Ts. and by the time they arrived they would probably not be very serviceable. We should meet the Commanders-in-Chiefs' request for 4 L.C.M. if possible

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