FO371-46259 — Page 73

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「お432

Exhaust from cos(45) 850- MG. BEE 548)

6.

0.12

DEC 1948

RE-DEPLOYMENT IN S. E. A. C. - REINFORCEMENTS FOR

HONG KONG

C. O. S. (45) 679_(0)

F11231/5xx/s

64

(Previous Reference: C.0.S.(45) 279th Meeting, Minute 14)

THE COMMITTEE gave further consideration to a note by the War Office covoring a suggested telegram to Admiral Mountbatten on the re-deployment of British troops in the Far East, and the provision of a re-inforcing Brigade for Hong Kong.

SIR ARCHIBALD NYE read out the reply which he had now received from Admiral Mountbatten on the provision of an Indian Brigade for Hong Kong in place of the 6th British Brigade. He suggested that the telegram attached to the War Office note should now be despatchod, subject to the addition of a new paragraph 3, as proposed at the last moeting.

LORD CUNNINGHAM asked when the Indian Brigade would be likely to arrive in Hong Kong; these reinforcements were urgently needed.

SIR ARCHIBALD NYE suggested that the following paragraph might be added to the telegram

"7.

Please send early report of estimated time of arrival of Indian Brigade in Hong Kong."

Sir Archibald Nye added that he had learned to his surprise that the 6th British Brigade which, according to C.-in-C., India, had been on the point of embarking for Hong Kong some ten days ago and was now presumed to be on its way, was in fact still at Poona.

THE COMMITTEE:

Approved the terms of the suggested telegram to S. A. C. S. E. A., subject

S.E.

to the above amendments, and

instructed the Segretary to arrange for its despatch."

Sent as COSSEA 425

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