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on for no more than 48 hours against Chinese military pressure (probably
for loss). A longer period is conceivable if the only throat faced is that
of spreading internal disorder as the troops fall back on thoir porinetor
zonoc, depending on the strongth of the military screen.
28.
Mobilisation of Transport. On an averago there are about 80-ocean-
going vessels of various sizes in Hong Kong at any given time. Twonty
international airlines operate through Hong Kong, with 180 schodulod
services arriving each wook. But in tho circumstances in which withdrawal
night bocono necessary, it is likely that airlinos would not be operating through Hong Kong and fow ships would be calling. Arrangononts would have
to bo nado for the roquisitioning and mobilisation of ships and aircraft.
29.
Dostination of Chinose Evacuocs. The problem of placing upwards
of 150,000 Chinese are likely to be formidable. Fow countries have agrood
to tako Chinose in other than in small numbors and thon only if they
possess cortain skills or professional qualifications.
wo shall be evacuating will bo in this category.
Most of thoso
30. There are about 35,000 Hong Kong Chinese in this country; there is
Taiwan would no likoly to be considerable opposition to take any noro.
doubt in this crisis take quite a largo numbor. America and Canada aro
countries with largo Chinese communities that might tako significant
numbers. Sono South American countries (o.g. Brazil) might offer special
facilities.
31. But we cannot talk to any of these countries (other than America
and Australia) in advance about this problem. We shall therefore requiro
sono transit arcas to which those people can go hilo thoir distribution is docided. (This facility we shall nood also on a very short term
bais for distribution of non-Chinese). Sono countries night agroc to
tako ovacucos on a very short-term basis ponding rodistribution c.g.
Singaporo, Taiwan and Manila. But wo may have to look for longer-term transit areas while the process of pormanont rosettlement is pursued (in
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