CO129-591-11 Emergency unit 1-1-1945 - 31-12-1945 — Page 49

3

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directed to the reoccupation of Hong Kong.

Canton is

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now known to be one of the objectives of forthcoming

offensive by American trained (? concentration) of Chinese

Combat Command and it may be that Hong Kong is another.

On the other hand I have no doubt the China Combat Command

even with extensive help from the sea including necessary landing craft and other special equipment will have great difficulty capturing Hong Kong island if Japanese suicide

garrison fight to last.

4. In unlikely contingency Japanese garrison choosing to surrender possibility that China Combat Command

will be forestalled into Hong Kong by local Chinese

communist guerillas cannot be ruled out. Indeed according

to latest reports of Japanese belonging to Communist (? word omitted) Japanese themselves may connive at such

a course.

5. Only British available close at hand for task in

question are small elements of British Army aid group.

Have had greatest difficulty clearing them with Americans

and any attempt on my part to build them up will certainly be viewed by Americans with grave suspicion and will meet

every sort of obstacle.

6.

In view of pera.2 above any leakage of our plans

will prejudice if not destroy British military position in

China which is already deplorably weak. B.A.A.G. is

watched and reported on by both local Americans and Chinese.

It is still regarded with suspicion by both and my own

view is Americans at all events have already concluded it

has some future role in connection with Hong Kong.