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withdrawal no plans exist to replace them, although the Governor of Hong Kong regards the protection afforded by ... planes as a continuing requirement. It has been decided that the naval dockyard should be closed over a two-year period ending in November 1959, and an armouncement to this effect was made in Hovember 1957 in Hong Long. The navel base is also to be reduced, but under the most recent naval dispositions it has proved possible to station in Hong Kong & destroyer/frigate and 6 inshore minesweepers for the protection of British shipping and the patrolling of Coastal waters.
5.
hat all of this amounts to is that British forces in Hong Kong have been run down to the bare minimum sufficient, it is hoped, to maintain local confidence (though the reduction itself will damage this to some extent, and to assist in the maintenance of internal security. There can be no question that the C.B.F. would find it possible to defend the Colony for long against a determined Chinese attack, or even to cover the evacuation of civilians in such an emergency. fact a calculated risk is being taken that such en emergency would not arise. Revision of his directive relating to evacuation will have to be undertaken in the near future.
In
6. When the Covernor saw the Chiefs of Staff and Defence Committee in July and August 1957 he was concerned about the cumulative effect of the force withdrawals and the general weakening of Britain's position in the Far East, on our ability to maintain ourselves in Hong Kong. lle had previously proposed that in order to maintain local confidence, (fundamental to the maintenance of internal security in the Colony; two of four artillery units which formed part of the long- term order of battle in Malaya, but for whom accommodation there was unlikely to be available for. five years, should be stationed in long long; and he indicated that in this could be done Hong Kong would be prepared to maintain its defence contribution of £1 million, rather than, as seemed logical, reduce it in view of the reductions that had taken place in the garrison strength. efence Committee, however, at their meeting on the 30thay 1957, were not prepared to sanction the stationing of the artillery regiments unless liong Kong made a satisfactory financial contribution. At the Defence Committee meeting in July 1957, at which the Governor of long zong stated the case from the local point of view, the question of cost was further discussed, but no decision was reached.
7.
It is understood that the Army Council would be agreeable to the stationing of these two artillery units or of one additional unit in Hongong if a
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