SECRET
Governor of Hong Kong on his forthcoming tour.
The point was made in the discussion that "there
might be some danger of this exercise being
måsunderstood and even construed as
provocative.
The C.G.S. is, I understand,
due to return to London on 3 February and will
then presumably report his conversations to
Chiefs of Staff.
in mind, we and the Commonwealth
3. With thisin
Office have carefully considered the points
made by the Governor of Hong Kong and Hopson
in the light of what we know about the exercise
and of our estimate of Peking's likely reactions.
As a result, we are reinforced in our patiX
preliminary view of it, viz that the Chiefs of
Staff might see their way to reconsidering the
advisability of this exercise being held in
Hong Kong at present, with a view to cancelling
it.
4.
In more detail, our main reasons are as
follows:
(a)
Although similar exercises have been held
in Hong Kong before on several occasions,
this is on a much larger scale and
involves the use of forces brought in from
outside Hong Kong. We understand that
2
the exercise is in the nature of a "battle"
against insurgents organised by
a communist neighbour. It would involve
the use of two cormendo groups, fighter
aircraft and about 30 helicopters, and
certain naval units. There would
obviously be considerable military
activity, including "pyrotechnic"
explosions.
/(b)