DRAFT
TOP SECRET
No.
AIDE MEMOIRE
EMERGENCY EVACUATION OF HONG KONG
150
The feasibility of planning for an evacuation of Hong Kong
in the event of a sudden enforced withdrawal has been closely
studied in London in accordance with a requirement laid down by
Ministers that knowledge of the preparation of such plans should
be confined in Hong Kong to the Governor and the Commander
British Forces.
2.
3.
Two key considerations were noted :
(i) The need for absolute secrecy would prevent 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).
In these circumstances it was concluded 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 could not be effectively implemented in the
time-scale and conditions of enforced withdrawal; and that a
very small-scale evacuation of vulnerable and sensitive"
people, with their dependants, might be possible.
4.
11
In the light of these conclusions, it has been decided
that all action to plan for an evacuation should be suspended
for the time being. In a rapidly deteriorating situation in
which it became evident that it would not be possible to hold
out for very long, all endeavours should be concentrated on
mounting a "crash" operation to effect the evacuation of as
many vulnerable and "sensitive" persons as possible. At that
stage American and/or Australian co-operation would be sought
/ and transport
...