TOQ 070515Z
TOR 0719412
SEACOS 60
7th March, 1956.
From FEDSEC for Chiefs of Staff Committee from. B.D.C.C.(.E.).
General Sugden on relinquishing his appointment as CBF Hong Kong made a report to us in which inter alia he stated the possession of tactical atomic weapons by the American Forces in the Far East will greatly strengthen our ability to defend Hong Kong providing that the Americans are willing, in the circumstances existing at the time, to use the weapons in support of the battle for Hong Kong".
2.
We agree that a major factor in our planning for the defence of Hong Kong is the extent and timing of U.S. nuclear counter action that might be forthcoming. Since the demise of the Five Power Staff Agency we have not undertaken any planning for the defence of Hong Kong with the U.S. We have made considerable progress under SEATO in discussing U.S. nuclear counter action in the event of overt Chinese Communist ægression in S.E. Asia. Hong Kong is, however, outside SEATO and hence at the moment progréss in the co-ordination with the U.S. of
our planning for the defence of Hong Kong is at a standstill.
3.
There have recently been clear and encouraging indications of American interest in the defence of Hong Kong which, we feel, afford us an opportunity for co-operation that should not be missed. In discussions at the recent ANZUS meeting in Melbourne CINCPAC stated that he considered Hong Kong to be defensible, and outlined air action that the Americans would take to implement such defence. Furthermore, the staffs of both CINCPAC and Headquarters, (USAF) have recently approached us with practical offers of help in the form of radio and radar equipment for Hong Kong.
4.
We are, therefore, considering whether General Loewen, as chairman CICC(FE), should approach CINCPAC with a view of arranging bilateral meetings with his staff to:-
(a) Agree the basic threat to Hong Kong.
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(b)
Agree on targets for nuclear attack that would directly influence the battle for the defence of Hong Kong.
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