5.
Repeated to Commissioner General, Singapore No.50
N.
No. 842
SEATO Plans
Although Hong Kong is not included in S. E. A. T.0. it is intimately concerned (geographically and otherwise) with the area from which the aggression, which it is S. E. A.T. O's purpose to resist, is most likely to derive i.e. Communist China.
2.
It occurs to me that if S.E.A.T.0. is effectively to resist aggression committed by China it can hardly exclude inhibitive or retaliatory action against the Chinese mainland from its plans. If such action were taken or threatened a reaction would inevitably result which would affect this Colony profoundly, possibly in a way which existing local plans are not designed to meet. It is, for example, no less than vital that I should have the longest possible warning of any situation which might lead to the bombing of airfields in the Canton area.
3.
+
To what extent it would be possible to make effective plans and preparations here to meet such eventualities I do not at present know; but it is impractical to initiate a realistic study of the problem until I know far more than
I do at present of what the S.E.A.T.0. planners have in mind.
4.
I should be grateful, therefore, if I might be informed now of the details of any plans (together with the circumstances in which they might be put into operation) adopted by S.E.A.T.O. which might affect Hong Kong in the wider context to which I have referred above, and if I might be kept informed of any future plans as and when they are adopted.
5.
David is of course fully briefed if you should wish to discuss the matter with Service Departments in London.
CBB/AT/rob
AC
“མ་
Page 160
Page 160
ナ
TOP SECRET & PERSONAL GUARD
Page 161Page 161 of 172
WITH THE COMPLIMENTS
OF
(Mr. P.G.F. Dalton)
FAR EASTERN DEPARTMENT
J.B. Johnston, Esq.. Colonial Office.
Foreign affice Slof 1Page 161 of 172
April 24
, 1957.