achosted
σ
2.
Seautyphy of State SEORET Semesting
Mr. Macy 111gan To sen
illigan
7
HW B10/6
Hong Kong: Exercise Caricature
Your minute of 6th February to Mr. Reed.
The Chiefs of Staff yesterday decided to
cancel the exercise, after hearing the views of
the Foreign and Commonwealth Offices.
They did
so with great reluctance since from a purely
military point of view it was an important one.
3. Some military value could still be derived
if the forces involved were to be allowed to
proceed to Hong Kong for minor training activities
and rest and recreation (as envisaged in the last
sentence of para.9 of H.K. telegram No.153).
The proposals training
abright of a favorable
cle. sam
نقل
Affume
We
agreed to explore this possibility with the Governor
Hong Kong, and Charge d'Affaires in Peking (C.O. tel.
No.241 to Hong Kong) and the Governor has replied
that he sees no objection (H.K. telegram No.173).
We await Peking's reply.
by the bolange d'effany
wow wo
Peting
)
441/2
مان
4.
From
If there is a favourable reply from Peking we
propose, subject to further consultation with the
Foreign Office, to agree to this compromise.
the point of view of boosting local morale (shaken
by events in Macao and by defence cuts) there is
much to commend a visit by these forces at the
present time. It was the "scenario" of the exercise
and the consequent pitch of military activity, rather
than the presence in Hong Kong of the forces
involved, that led to our doubts about Chinese
reactions.
bes. Canber
S.
(W. S. Carter)
Hong Kong & West Indian
'C' Department
18.
73
/Copies...