23
The final garrison has not yet been fixed but may be as low as 6,500 or as much as 11,000.
8. New Construction. Hutting for Bde H.Q. and 3 Bns in the New Territories is being planned, but has not yet received War Office sanction. If authority is received in March, the camps should be completed by August or September. If a second Inf Bde is sent to Hong Kong the camps will not have a great effect on the problem of civilian accommodation. If not, the Commando Bde may be moved into them, but this will depend on circumstances outlined in para. 9.
9. De-requisitioning. Table B gives a forecast of de-requisitioning, and shows that very little can be expected in the near future. A high proportion of Army requisitioned property is for Officers' Messes, and Welfare organisations, for which there was no pre- war provision. Another important factor is that until the Civil Police become fully effecctive, small military posts have to be maintained at outlying parts, and have to be accommodated in requisitioned buildings.
·
In addition to the information shown on the table, the Jockey Club Stables may be de-requisitioned fairly soon, but this will also depend on the Civil Police being able to take over the area, and will not affect the Civil Accommodation problem.
10. The general conclusion is that whatever Garrison may finally be decided, a considerable amount of rebuilding and new building by the Army will be necessary, and comparatively little accommodation can be de-requisitioned in the near future.
Hong Kong, 1st February, 1946.
TABLE A.
(Signed) H. M. WHITCOMBE,
Col.
D.C.E. 144 (Ind.) Works.
ABSTRACT OF DAMAGE TO MILITARY BUILDINGS.
Type of Building
A
B
C
D
E
Total damaged
or destroyed
Barracks
20
5
3
5
13
Married Qtrs.
130
34
114
6
158
Md. Offrs. Qtrs.
6
6
6
18
Officers Messes
2
3
Ancillary Buildings
113
121
68
26
1985
2
5
65
280
Hospital
1
NOTES.
1. Barracks are calculated in units of accommodation for 200 men.
2. 117 Md. Qtrs. under "A" have been repaired for use as barracks, and further work will be needed before they can revert to their proper use.
Ancillary buildings include cookhouses, dining rooms, offices, stores, latrines, etc., without which military accommodation is incomplete.
4. Barracks on Stonecutters Island are not included.
5. Argyle St. Camps are not included as they are temporary accommodation only.
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