TOF SECRET
Cypher/Cat. A
CANBERRA TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
Telno. 906
ARCHIVES
- 800N..
6 June 1967
72
TOP SECRET
Addressed to Commonwealth Office telegram No. 906 of
6 June
Repeated for information to Hong Kong, POLAD Singapore and Washington.
My telegram No. 856[sic]
Hong hong
Booker, D. E. A. spoke earnestly to me today about possible need to evacuate Australian nationals from Hong Kong in event of renewed Communist agitation leading to breakdown in control. He gave me a Note (copy by bag of 9 June).
2.
Australians profess to accept that we have at present no contingency plans for evacuating our nationals. But Australian Ministers fear criticism if they had given no thought to position of their own nationals.
3. They understand risk of loss of confidence which would arise from any knowledge that evacuation was even being thought of: and emphasise that they envisage that any evacuation which might have to take place would be on basis of sharing evacuation capability with ng (and, if we wished, Americans) with equality of priority for our respective nationals. They therefore would like to discuss evacuation planning with us (and Americans if we wish) at whatever place and under whatever conditions of secrecy we choose. They would willingly send officials to Hong Kong.
40 Note referred to in paragraph 1 above sets out Australian sea-lift capability up to 23 June which by chance would be adequate to move up to two thousand people (approximately likely number of Australian nationals in Hong Kong) to nearest safe havens. They urgently need to know whether to make naval dispositions now to retain this capacity after 23 June as they might feel forced to do if we were unable to agree any joint contingency plans. They therefore hope consultations they seek can take place as soon as possible.
5.
I again stressed position as in first sentence of paragraph 2 above, but otherwise simply undertook to pass on Australian view.
6. Grateful instructions.
0.0. pass Hong Kong 52, and Washington 61, Mr. Morgan
Sent 08382/6 June 1967 [Repeated as requested]Recd 08562/6 June 1967 DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
C.0.
SSSSS
F.E. & P.D. F.0. F. E.D. D.T.D.
Consular Dept. TOP SECRET