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16/2/1971
HKK 10/9
SECRET
PS/Lord Gofonwy-Roberts
Getonwy-Rob
PS/Mr Ents
Pearlay of
Mfile of state
Lud Gamay- Roberts has
see magoed.
7s. Calmelly
PS lette to isun NS.D
MP's LETTER:
Problem
1.
8/
BRITAIN'S COMMITMENTS TO HONG KONG
Itali
Sliqul
川
ателним
1E815
Sir Anthony Royle has written to the Secretary of State,
asking for his personal confirmation that two recent answers by
Mr Ennals concerning Britain's commitments to Hong Kong represent
firmly the policy of Her Majesty's Government.
Background
2. In the House on 27 March and again in answer to a written
question on 1 April, Mr annals reaffirmed Britain's commitments
to Hong Kong and the intention not to withdraw from the Colony.
In the political sense that there is no intention to withdraw
from the administration of Hong Kong in the foreseeable future,
this is certainly true and is no more than a continuation of the
policy of all previous governments.
3. Even in the sense of complete military withdrawal it is also
almost certainly true, since our administration of Hong Kong
could hardly be maintained without a garrison; nor would
confidence in the Colony survive such a withdrawal. But the
Ministry of Defence do not want, at this stage of the Defence
Review, to forswear finally any military options at all;
certainly do not now want to rule out the possibility of
advocating some readjustment of the Hong Kong garrison, when
the Defence Review is completed.
and they
SECRET
14.