CO_968_583_DEFENCE_OF_HONG_KONG_1957_1959 — Page 92

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clandestine activities could also be accomplished from other

landing areas.

Nuclear Warfare

9.

CCA forces are still thought to be untrained in the

use of nuclear weapons but it is possible that nuclear

missiles will be made available to them by the Soviet Union in

the period under review. If nuclear weapons become part of the

defence of Hong Kong, the CCA would probably also use them in

attack, although they might be reluctant to start nuclear

warfare because they would not wish to alienate potentially

sympathetic populations here and elsewhere in Asia, and because

they have overwhelming forces available and have no real need of

nuclear weapons. Some training in defensive measures to be

adopted against the nuclear weapons is carried out. This is

likely to further change their tactics, although the overall

number of troops employed in an attack may remain unchanged.

SCALE AND NATURE OF ATTACK

Land

10.

one.

The Chinese, in accordance with Soviet tactical

doctrine, are likely to aim at a superiority of about eight to

Any rundown in the strength of Hong Kong Garrison would

be known and a proportionately smaller Chinese Communist

assault force might then be employed. The smallest operational field unit'is at present an army (strength 50,000).

Any diminution in the strength of the attack would mean that

CCA would offer fewer concentrations for nuclear attack.

There are available within a radius of 400 miles from the

frontier some 260,000 regular troops comprising a balanced

force of infantry, artillery, engineers and some armour. force of this strength could be employed against the Colony

without seriously restricting the Chinese Communist capability

for operations elsewhere.

Sea

Page 92 If the Chinese Communists employed only PageSubf283

/Fleet, they

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