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N. 253/95/55
-DEF 75/51/01 (TS)
TOP SECKET
1 December, 1955.
Please refer to your letter of 7th December enclosing a suggested signal to the Commander-in-Chief, Far East Station.
2. We recognise the importance of testing the American equipment for communication with U.S. aircraft which might be employed to co-operate in the defence of Hong Kong, but the proposals in your letter to provide an opportunity for such a test seem to us to raise an important point of policy,
3. We think that it would be best for us to consult the Governor on the question of policy before the Commander- in-Chief, Far East, is authorised to discuss details of the proposed arrangements with him and with the C.-in-C., Facifio.
4. As you recognise, the Governor would be bound to have strong objections to an evacuation exercise, particularly if it should coincide with the public becoming aware of the intended gradual reduction of the Hong Kong Garrison, The existence of evacuation plans is classified Top Secret and it would be out of the question for them to be used as cover for anything else.
5. But the Governor may equally see objections to combined training exercises if these were intended to go beyond the sort of routine activity that goes on all the time and if
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C. R. DINNIE, ESQ.