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ANNEX V

151

Copy of letter (COS. 1764/5) dated 14th December, 1945, from the Secretary Chiefs of Staff Committee to the Colonial Office

The Chiefs of Staff this morning considered the question of reincorcements for Hong Kong and as you will be aware, it has been agreed that an Indian brigade should be sent as reinforcement. C.-in-✪. Hong Kong has, however, drawn attention in his telegram TOO 080510, of which you have a copy, to the necessity of retaining a proportion of the naval landing parties now employed on police duties until sufficiently trained police forces, officered by Europeans, are available, due to the fact that an Indian brigade and not a British brigade is being sent to Hong Kong.

The Chiefs of Staff agreed at their meeting this morning that the naval landing parties could not be allowed to continue to carry out police duties, as they are required to replace demobilised personnel elsewhere, and they are

The Chiefs of instructing C.-in-C. Hong Kong accordingly. Staff, while appreciating that a British brigade would be

felt more desirable than an Indian brigade in Hong Kong, that at the present time it was not possible to move a British brigade from either Maleya or India as reinforcement, and they are informing C.-in-C. Hong Kong that in the circumstances he will have to make the best use possible of the Indian brigade.

The Chiefs of Staff instructed me, however,

to ask

that everything possible should be done to accelerate the despatch of the European instructors, whom it is understood will be proceeding to Hong Kong in the New Year after they have completed their training in this country.

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