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it
3.
Now that there is no longer a plan for the evacua-
tion of Hong Kong, it is arguable that it is no longer
necessary to continue in being the Order in Council
designed to provide powers for requisitioning British
shipping. But it is envisaged that in the event of an
emergency a limited "crash" operation to evacuate certain
sensitive and vulnerable people would be carried out.
The powers of requisition may be needed for this and it
without replacing. is therefore not proposed to revoke the Order
4. The Order has been amended on one occasion (1958)
to bring it up to date (copy of Amending Order
Order A
at
rjAnnex B)
and it now needs further amendment for the same purpose
since it could not be published or brought into force in
its present form. Accordingly an up to date draft Order
has been prepared (Annex C) which is designed to revoke
and replace the Order of 1955 and the amending Order of
1958. It is the intention that the new Order, when made,
should not be published but should be held in readiness
against the occurrence of an emergency threatening Hong
Kong.
Hong Kong Dept. F.C.O.
June, 1969.
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