FO371-46259 — Page 171

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Extract from cos(45) 2845 Mg

REINFORCEMENTS FOR HONG KONG

14.12.45

ি Enter FFF 12/12

Previous Reference: C.0.S. (45) 283ral lite, in, 8)

149

THE COMMITTEE continued their discussion from the previous meeting of the question of sending an indian infantry brigade to Hong Kong to perform police duties.

SIR ARCHIBALD NYE said that the main point was whether the 600 sailors now employed on shore on police duty should remain or whether 600 British soldiers should be sent to replace them. With regard to the latter point he was not prepared to despatch any further British troops to Hong Kong as it would mean withdrawing them from sither Malaya or India. He suggested that the difficulties with which the Chiefs of Staff woro faced should be pointed out to the Colonial Office and that the Colonial Office should be requested to expedite the despatch of the police instructors which they were sending out in the Now Year.

LORD CUNNINGHAM stressed that he could not allow 600 sailors to remain at Hong Kong on police duties as these men were urgently required elsewhere for taking the place of

He recalled that some time other sailors being demobilised.

ago the C. -in-C. India had stated that he could spare from India the 6th Brigade of 2nd British Division.

SIR ARCHIBALD NYE said he felt that there had been a misunderstanding by C.-in-C. India with regard to the future employment of that Brigade as it had been decided that that Brigade should not proceed to Hong Kong.

LORD CUNNINGH said he still felt that there was time to move a British brigade from India and to return it to India lator before the disturbances envisaged by C.-in-C. India next spring broke out. He felt that the whole question of the despatch of reinforcements to Hong Kong had been under consideration much too long and that a definite decision should now be taken.

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