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increase the numbers of people whom we might expect to be able to evacuato.
On the other hand, knowledge of the presence or proximity of such ships
might cause the public in Hong Kong to put two and two together and thus
haston loss of confidonco. Some other Govornmonts mi ht have ships
standing by for ovacuation purposes, but this is loss certain.
In an
omorgoncy, use of both the harbour and tho airport would be subject to
sovoro limitations, for a variety of reasons (soo paragraph 10).
Security Considerations
8. The erriding socurity requiromont procludos any offective planning
on the linos indicatod in para raph 6. To produce any riority lists
that would be moaningful (i.o. up-to-dato and including addresses) it
would be necessary to call on the continuing services of a number of
officials in Hong Kong. Aroa Wardons could not be expected to dis-
charge their duties successfully unless appointed in advanco and givon
somo advanco information of thoir functions. Any roalistic planning
for assembly and evacuation arcas and for mobilisation of civil transport
must involve a larger number of persons than is pormissiblo having
knowledge of the schomo. Moreover, arrangements for temporary transit
and rocoption contros for largo numbors would entail sono advanco
discussion with othor administrations o.. the Philippino and Singapore
Governments and tho Taiwan authoritios. Similar considcrations would
also provont any officially directod or sponsored wooding out of
dopendants in advanco of a gonoral ovacuation (although it is possiblo
that many would alroady have hoon sont out by firms and individuals
acting on their own initiativo). For the samo rozson it would bo
undesirable to consult the United Statos boforchand about the like-
lihood of their being ablo to make availablo their warships and
merchantmon for evacuation purposes. In addition to the socurity
consideration, any approach by us (which would have to bo mado at a
high lovol) might load the United States Government to doubt our
firmness of purpose in Hong Kong.
Tho Likoly Hong Kong Situation
9.
Whoroas in normal ovacuation oxorcises clscwhoro little rogard
need be paid to the impact of the doparturos, the overriding nood to
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