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THE MILITARY THREAT TO HONG KONG UP TO 1960
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THE COMMITTEE had before them a draft report prepared by the Joint Intelligence Staff, on the military threat to Hong Kong up to 1960.
MR. BARTON said that he thought the Committee should be aware of a letter which the Secretary of State for the Colonies had just received from the Governor of Hong Kong.
A copy of the letter was being sent to the Minister of Defence. In his letter the Governor said that he doubted whether we should now assume that an attack on Hong Kong would precipitate a war with China. It was always possible for the Chinese Communists to foment trouble in the Colony, to send in troops and to restore law and ostensibly to protect their nationals order, and face the United Kingdom almost over-night with a
In these circum- de facto Chinese occupation of the Colony. stances it was doubtful whether war with China would necessarily follow.
ø J.I.C.(56)50(Revised Draft)
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