Lag
(F)(61) B
4th December 467
(43/{)
ISA
(43/211)
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3 0.P.D. PAPER
Contingency Planning: Hong Kong
2 57
47
No
(Memorandum by the Commemealth Secretary State
for
for Camanwalth
I attach a report by an inter-departmental Working Party of
officials on the feasibility of planning for an emergency
evacuation from Hong Kong, with an annex on the financial and
economic measures which would have to be taken. It was prepared
in accordance with the instructions given on 28 July (O.P.D.(67)
28th Meeting, Item 8) for the preparation of contingency plans and,
in particular, in the light of the requirement that knowledge of
the preparation of such plans should be confined in Hong Kong to
the Governor and the Commander British Forces.
2. Two key considerations are noted in the report by the
officials:-
(1) The need for absolute secrecy prevents any detailed
planning and prior preparation "on the ground".
(ii) Once evacuation was ordered, the internal security
situation would deteriorate very rapidly and plans would
have to be implemented in a very short time (probably
no more than 48 hours and very possibly much less).
The conclusions are therefore that only outline plans could be
prepared; that, in the absence of detailed arrangements and
prior preparation, any outline plan for a large-scale evacuation (paragraphs 5-7) could not be effectively implemented in the time- scale and conditions of enforced withdrawal (paragraphs 8-10);
that, in the circumstances of enforced withdrawal, a very small-
scale evacuation of vulnerable and "sensitive" people, with their
dependants, might be possible.
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