Cosy for:
:DEF 75/51/02
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FED 528/400/01 (TS)
20th August, 1958
In telegram COSTMA 40 of the 20th September, 1956 approval was given to the Directive for the Commander, British Forces in Hong Kong at Appendix A to the Annex to D.C.C.(FE)(56)1; as far as we know this
Directive is still in force. Paragraph 4 of the Directive stats that Commander's tasks. We have no quarrel with paragraphs 4(a) and (b) but, in the light of the considerable reductions in the garrison which have been made cinco the Directive was iuuc? we have grown increbingly doubtful as to the Commander'a ability, in the event, to cover the evacuation of families and loyal civilians. The Governor too has his doubts and so, I understand, has the Commander hiwoolf; indeed the B.7.0.C. themselves, in framing the Contender's Directive expressed, in paragraphs 6-9 of the Annex to D.C.U. (FF)(56)1 véry considerable doubts as to the Commander's ability in fact to cover evacuation and this no doubt explains the presence in paragraph 4(c) of the Directive of the phrase "to the greatest extent practicable". In considering täis matter it is noteworthy, with reference to paragraphs 6 - 9 of the Anncx to Ď.c.c.(FE)(56)1 that, given the present level of Forces in the Colony, there could be no question of air supremacy and there is no armour. Most recently in Cos(58)68, Annex, paragraph 8, it was said that any large-scale evacuation of civilians would be impracticable.
2.
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CAPTAIN D.G. CLUTTERBUCK, R.N.
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