presence alone be expected to deter communist China carrying out a major act of aggression should she, for some reason, prefer this to more subtle means of take-over, and should she be prepared to accept the international odium, the economic consequences and perhaps strategic risks of getting involved with the USA. However, since the present mutual interest between China and Hong Kong makes such an adventure rather pointless, and since there is, in any case, "more than one way of killing a cat", a major armed attack can be discounted as a justification for a particular permanent force level, or indeed for a particular scale of reinforcement.
SUMMARY OF ARMY UNITS REQUIRED
23. The minimum Army units required (see also Annex B) in the Colony are therefore:
a.
Immediate Requirment: to provide assistance to the Police from the outset in an internal security situation and to carry out routine deterrent and surveillance duties along the border:
(1)
Urban Areas
(including
Tsuen Wan
(2)
New Territories
(excluding the
Border)
four battalions or equivalent one engineer field squadron and plant
half a battalion
le
Present force
of 1 fo
(3) Border Area
Total
+ 1/2 on (equiv (4)
one battalion
five and a half (54) battalions (3 one engineer field squadron to meet a developing yet still realistic threat, resulting from a prospect of widespread and prolonged disorders taking place simultaneously on the Border and in urban areas:
b.
تا
After Reinforcement:
+11/2 (1) Urban Areas
1/2
(2) New Territories
1
(3) Border Area
le Far
(4) Total
Han
- 1967
five and a half battalions
one battalion (also acts as reserve to Border)
two battalions
one armoured reconnaissance squadron or close support battery
one engineer field squadron
and plant
eight and a half (81). battalions
or equivalent
one squadron or battery
two engineer field squadrons.
(3) This is one battalion less than was actually and actively deployed in 1957
a lo
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