CAB80-32 — Page 181

Page 181

TO BE KEPT UNDER LOCK AND KEY.

(THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPEure the secrecy of this document,

SECRET.

0.5.(41) 720.

C150

It is requested that special care may be taken to

OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVENT

(Also P.D.C. (41) 101)

COPY NO. 33

3RD DECEMBER 194his document was considered at cos) 40yMeeting.

WAR CABINET.

CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE.

ANTI-AIRCRAFT DEFENCE OF HCG KONG,

Report.

The Chiefs of Staff at their 389th Meeting on 26th November invited the Port Defence Committee to reassess the of anti-aircraft defence for Hong Kong.

2.

This question was last reviewed in July, 1939 - Paper~-~

ale

J. D. C. 510, when the following scale of defence was recommended

3.

Heavy Anti-Aircraft

Light Anti-Aircraft Seachlights

32 30

12

In setting forward a revised scale of defence the following assumptions have been made:-

4.

(i) the general policy still holds good whereby Hong Kong is regarded as an outpost to be held as long as possible. (ii) Japan can develop a very heavy scale of air attack. (iii) there will be no fighter defence available.

(iv) no naval forces, with the possible exception of small

craft based on Aberdeen, will be operating for Hong Kong.

As pointed out in J. D. C. 510 of 31st July, 1939, the present 32 heavy anti-aircraft guns give a 12-gun density over the populated area of Victoria and an 8-gun density over Aberdeen. We consider this should be raised to provide a 20-24 gun density This can be done with 48 over Victoria, and 12-16 for Aberdeen. heavy anti-aircraft guns..

5.

Even with this scale, considerable damage will be done against the main centre of populatiom, but provided sufficient light anti-aircraft weapons are available (see paragraph 6 below) it should ensure that troops are able to operate against an attack developed against the Island. The protection of the civil centre must rely to a considerable extent on Air Raid Precaution measures..

6. Since the previous review the danger from low flying attack has increased. It is considered that further defences are required for the following reasons:-

(i) to provide additional cover for Victoria area,

(ii) for defence of the coast defence works which in many

are isolated from the main heavy anti-aircraft defences (iii) to prevent heavy anti-aircraft guns being singled out as

individual targets.

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