FO371-46257 — Page 49

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2 British Division is at present being organised in India and it is unlikely that a brigade of this formation will be available to leave India before mid-October. Even then shipping is likely to be a limiting factor as the move of a brigade to HONG-KONG has not so far, been included in Admiral MOUNTBATTEN's proposals for October or early November.

It will not be possible to say what the effect of moving one brigade of 2 British Division into HONG-KONG as soon as possible will have on present planned commitments without consulting Admiral Mountbatten.

5. We recommend that the draft telegram at Annex should be sent to Admiral Mountbatten, approving the increase of the HONG-KONG Garrison, as a purely temporary measure, by one brigade, and asking him to advise the effect on other planned shipping commitments of the earliest move of this brigade.

Offices of the Cabinet and

Minister of Defence, S.W.1.

9TH OCTOBER, 1945.

DRAFT

From: Cabinet Offices

To:

SACSEA

C-in-C HONG-KONG

C-in-C INDIA

ALFSEA

ANKEX

Repeated to

IMMEDIATE

Ref. C-in-C HONG-KONG telogram 270530 NOT to India.

Following from Chiefs of Staff.

FIRST. Agrec garrison of two brigades necessary for HONG-KONG as temporary measure.

SECOND. Understand 2 Div less one brigade will be available if, as seems likely, no British garrison required for CHINA ports.

THIRD. Request information date when one brigade of 2 Div can be moved to HONG-KONG and effect of this move on other planned shipping commitments, in particular reoccuatpion BORNEO.

-2-

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