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SECRET
Extract from Minutes of Defence and Oversea Policy (Official) Committee Defence Review Working Party.
OPDO(DR)(67) 24th Meeting
2.6.67
3.
HONG KONG
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O
!
The CHAIRMAN said that the Defence and Oversea
Policy Committee had invited the Commonwealth Secretary
to arrange for officials to consider our policy towards
Hong Kong in the long term, and to study in particular
what adaptations of the status of Hong Kong might be
possible and desirable after the conclusion of the present
conflict in Vietnam, in the light of the possibility that
we might not be able to remain in Hong Kong on present
terms until our lease of the New Territories lapsed.
Officials had also been instructed to consider what steps
would be necessary if we were forced to evacuate the
colony. It had been suggested that a Committee might
be formed under Cabinet Office chairmanship to prepare
a report on these questions, but in view of the possibility
that the Defence Review Working Party might be given a
general responsibility for the co-ordination of long-term
planning in the defence and oversea policy field they might
think it appropriate to take on the Hong Kong study rather
than to set up a separate Committee. The Working
Party could, however, have separate meetings to discuss
Hong Kong with appropriately adjusted membership.
The Working Party
Took note of the Chairman's statement.
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