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Part I to COS 9th Meeting/67 7th February 1967
touched off in China with obvious adverse effects and second, there might well be demonstrations developing into riots and a difficult Internal Security situation in Hong Kong. Therefore, he considered this was a most inopportune moment to hold an exercise on this scale since it could lead to an embarrassing, or in the worst case, a grave situation.
MR CARTER (Commonwealth Office) said that with some reluctance he agreed with the Foreign Office assessment and considered that for Hong Kong's sake, the possibility of adverse Chinese reaction was too great a risk to run.
In discussion, the following points were made:
There was a possibility that if Exercise CARICATURE was cancelled, the Chinese might regard this cancellation as a triumph for them, similar to the Portuguese humiliation in Macao. However, as there had been little publicity so far, the chance of a Chinese reaction of this type was considered to be remote if the exercise was cancelled now. This would not be the case if the exercise was cancelled shortly before 13th February.
b. Although it would be a very great disappointment if the exercise was cancelled, much practical value had been obtained from the stages of the exercise which had already taken place, particularly in the planning phase, and would continue to be obtained whilst the troops were embarked.
C.
If the exercise was cancelled, the Governor, Hong Kong had tentatively accepted (3) that some of the vessels and units involved could visit the Colony for minor exercises and a rest and recreation period. This could also be used to justify the public statements already made and would, it was agreed, cause less reaction than Exercise CARICATURE.
Summing up, SIR JAMES CASSELS said they would, with the greatest reluctance, owing to the importance they attach to this exercise, have to agree that Exercise CARICATURE be cancelled. They would invite the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Office to examine urgently the possibility of some of the forces involved visiting Hong Kong for minor exercises and rest and recreation.
The Committee:
(1) Agreed with the remarks of the Acting Chief of the Defence Staff in his summing up.
(2) Instructed the Secretary to inform the Commander- in-Chief, Far East of their decision (4).
(3) Invited the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Office, as a matter of urgency, th examine the possibility of some of the forces involved in Exercise CARICATURE visiting Hong Kong for minor exercises and recrcation.
Notes:
3.
나이
Hong Kong to Commonwealth Office Telegram
No 153, paragraph 9.
Subsequently despatched as COSSEA 10.
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