-3--
but to avoid giving explicit long term commitments
that the United Kingdom Government might be unable
to fulfil. From this point of view it is most
important that the situation in Hong kang and southern
China should be kept under close and continuous vi
review, and the Chiefs of Staff have been directed to
report on military development in South-Bast Asia with
particular reference to the threat to Hong Kong and
to consider how additional reinforcements could be
provided if a large-scale threat to ilong kong
developed.
(iv) we must of course keep the Commonwealth
Covernments in the closest touch with our plans for
the
the reinforcement of/Hong Kong garrison and with
the development in United Kingdom policy for meeting
the situation in south-Bast Asia. e should naturally
welcome their support for our stand against any
Communist threat in that area. we should not,
however, propose to stress in any public statement
our consultation with other Commonwealth Governments
since this might be open to misinterpretation and
give an undue impression that we were preparing for
serious consequences.
We realise that this is delicate ground and we are
content to leave it to your discretion to make your
approach, in the light of local circumstances and the personalities involved, in the way that you consider is
most calculated to be effective.
We also hope that you will be able to draw the
Ministers/