FO371-46251 — Page 213

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Note of a Meeting held in the Colonial office on the 23rd July. to consider the general question of the circumstances in which Hong Kong is likely to be re-taken and in particular the points raised in telegram No, 0/011h of the 20th July from the G.0.0. British Troops

in China.

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Present:

The Foreign Office

**

The War Office

Office

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Hong Kong Planning Unit Colonial office

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#

Mr. Sterndale Bennett. Mr. Kitson.

Lt.Col.0.S.Nangle (M.0.12). Lt. Col.L.M. Taylor (C.A.4.). Mr. MacDougall.

Mr. Gent.

Mr. Paskin.

Lt. Col. Chalmers.

Mr. Sabben-Clare. Miss Ruston,

There was considerable discussion but the following facts and conclusions finally emerged:-

(1) It has now been agreed that Hong Kong is within General Chiang Kai Shek's command.

(2) An American operation from Free China against Canton and possibly against Hong Kong in which American trained Chinese troops would be used is likely to take place in the near future.

(3) The War Office consider that on the whole the chances are that the Japanese will remain in Hong Kong as they did in Okinawa and not abandon the Colony.

(4) In that event there are insufficient British enemy.

forces available at present to oust the

(5) If, on the other hand, the Japanese left only a skeleton resistance force in the Colony, a token British force (say a battalion) could possibly be made available to secure its possession.

(6) The War Office would not be able to agree that Civil Affairs Officers should go into Hong Kong in advance of the combatant forces.

(7) It is very desirable that General Chiang Kai Shek's agreement should now be obtained to the attachment of a British Civil Affairs Unit to any regular Chinese forces who may be engaged in operations against Hong Kong. This would follow the precedent of the agreement implied in our understanding with the Americans and put into practice in the case of Borneo. It is desirable that the opportunity should be taken of President Truman's present meeting at Potsdam with the Prime Minister to obtain prior American agreement to this proposal before approaching the Generalissimo.

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