FO371-24688 — Page 29

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INDEXED

SECRET OIPHER TELEGRAM

IF

3481

177

25 JUN 1840

SECRET.

B.

From :- G.0.C. Hong Kong.

Desp. 1951. Recd. 1700.

24/6/40. 24/6/40.

To

The War Office.

7361 cipher.

24/6.

** ૦૫૫

*Lift

Your 74647. (M.0.2.)

of 32, June.

(o

248

I

Numbers for evacuation Navy and Dockyard 360 women 310 children Army

and Air Force 489 women 604 children and 32 Indian women 38 Indian

children. Total 1833. Above is total of service personnel.

Non-service number estimated by Colonial Government at 7000 women and

children not including American and Portugese.

Can only give estimate

Under normal conditions

as no compulsory registration for evacuation,

shipping available in port or vicinity at 36 hours notice to carry

4000 passengers under evacuation conditions, provided destination not

further than Manila and typhoons bo not interfere. In 48 hours

service families can be evacuated and if previous warning given time

probably reduced to 24 hours. From above clear that accommodation for

2000 non-service women and children only can be made available for

considerable period and remainder must depend upon the fortuitous presence

of a British liner, now a rare occurrence, and foreign ships escort of

one armed merchant cruiser and one destroyer might be made available but

considered of little value and better employed elsewhere.

Hong Kong agrees..

C.4. (Telegrams.)

Copies to :- S. of S.

C.I.G.S.

V.CI. G.S.

A.C.I.G.S. (A.)

A.G. Q.M.G.

Sir J. Brian.

M.I.J.I.C.

To:- 1.0.2. (for action.) D.M.O. & P. D.D.M.O. D.M.I. D.D.M.I.(I.)

M.0.1.2.2a.

M.I.2.2c.

2516.

B.94.G

27/6

D.Q.M.G.(A) (B)

D.MOV.

Q. (M.) 2c.3.

4.2.

Commoore

Foreign Office. (Mr. H.Ashley

Clarke.

Admiralty. (Comdr.S.Barry. Air Min. (S.C.I.Casey.) Col. Office. (M.G.E J.Gent.

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