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ANNEX B
90.There is in existence a Dormant Commission issued to the Commander British Forces (CBF). It was intended for use in the event of an emergency when it had become clear that the situation in the Colony was such that the CBF should assume overall command,
both civil and military. The Commission was drawn up at the time
of the Korean War; it was then conceived that Hong Kong would be
defended to the bitter end and that before the end came the
Governor would leave the Colony. The Commission comes into
operation at a time to be appointed in writing by the CBF after consultation with the Governor and with the prior approval of the
Secretary of State; if, in his absolute discretion, the CBF is satisfied that it is no longer practicable to obtain the prior
approval of the Secretary of State, the Commission may be brought into operation on a date to be appointed in writing by the CBF
after consultation with the Governor.
91 Since it is no longer the policy to fight to the end in Hong Kong and our aim must be to make the best we can of an orderly
transfer of our responsibility for the Colony, it is essential that the Governor should remain at his post. In the changed
circumstances therefore it would seem that the time has come to
cancel the Dormant Commission.
Conclusions (x) -(z)
(x) In the event of a Chinese military attack obviously mounted with the objective of taking over Hong Kong we would surrender the
Colony with only a show of resistance. Unremitting Chinese pressure short of a military take-over could render our position untenable and lead us to the conclusion that we must withdraw with
or without Chinese co-operation.
(y) In either event China might not accept our renunciation of control but might aim to force us to maintain a puppet British
administration under their control. In such circumstances it might
be better to co-operate with them rather than to sever, as in a
formal way we could easily do, our political and economic
connections with the Colony.
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However