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6. The assessed capacity of the Hong Kong
Garrison at that time to resist any such
aggression was reflected in the Military
Directive to the Commander British Forces
which was then operative and which contained
the following sentence:
7.
"Task. Should an attack on the
Colony develop you will take all
measures necessary to defeat it and
restore the situation in the Colony."
In the years since 1950 the size of the
Garrison has been reduced and the Chinese
potential for aggression has substantially
increased. The present situation is that
not only would it be impossible effectively
to defend Hong Kong against a determined
Chinese attack; it would be extremely
unlikely that resistance to such an attack
could be prolonged for a period sufficient
to mount anything more than a last minute
crash operation to evacuate a small number
of people including the more sensitive
personnel.
8. This gradual change in the situation
has been reflected in a series of
modifications over the years in the role of
the garrison as set out in successive
Military Directives; and the current
Directive, in describing the task of the
Garrison in relation to external aggression,
prescribes the role of the Garrison as
follows:-
"to be prepared, in the event of
Chinese armed aggression, to identify
such aggression and to offer such
3.
/resistance