33 APPENDIX "D". DEFENCE. OF SINGAPORE SECTION I. INTRODUCTION. 1. In the discussion of the courses open to Japan in Section VIII of our main appreciation, we expressed the opinion that the Japanese would hesitate to incur the risks involved in a large-scale attack to capture Singapore. We considered, however, that the Japanese might undertake minor operations at Singapore, designed to inflict damage to the naval base and thus delay the arrival of the British Fleet at Hong Kong. 2. The capture of Singapore would, however, be almost as decisive in its results as the defeat of the British Main Fleet, in so for as it affected our ability to interfere with Japanese policy in China.