FO371-27622 — Page 341

13031/6/41

Page 341

9 Mouis

13031/6/41.

MOST SECRET.

(ministry of Was Transport)

Dear Cullen,

he wom line is of m. 2_7 NOV 1941

Shoma

284

F13284

Downing Street, S. F. 1.

ab November, 1941.

6

Please refer to your letter to Davies 2083/9 of the 21st November about the measures for the removal of certain types of plant and tools from Hong Kong and the destruction of the remainder, if necessary, to prevent them falling into enemy hands.

I was on the point of writing to Caplan about this as we have just received the enclosed despatch from the Governor forwarding a complete list of the plant and tools which it is proposed to evacuate from Hong Kong in an emergency and also a list of the personnel which will accompany the plant. As regards paragraph 2(c) of the Secretary of State's most secret telegram No.273, you will see from paragraphs 9-12 of the first enclosure of the Governor's despatch that there are no stores or plant available for immediate despatch though further enquiries are being made into whether any plant and stores are available from deposit.

You will see that the Governor also states that complete plans have been drawn up for the destruction of the plant, tools and stocks which would remain after the emergency evacuation.

You will no doubt let us know if you have any comments on the Governor's report. Subject to your views it does not seem to us that any action is required on the despatch.

I am sending copies of this letter and most of the enclosures to Anderson (India Office), Scott (M.0.10, War Office), Gilmour (Admiralty) and Sterndale Bennett (Foreign Office), but am not sending them the detailed lists which show the types, sizes and weights of the various machines.

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I. S. CULLEN, ESQ.

Yours sincerely,

Sgt. a. R. Thomas

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