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Ми
Mr Tasker C/D
(THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT)
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C.O.S. 449) 187
0.s. (49) 187
25TH MAY, 1949.
COPY N♂1
CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE
(Sue 304)
HONG KONG
Copy of a letter dated 21st May, 1949
from the Colonial Office to the Secretary, Chiefs of Staff Committee.
My Secretary of State is anxious to send as early as possible a reply to the Governor of Hong Kong to two questions raised in paragraphs 10 and 11 of S.A.C. (49) 5t, which were not fully considered at the meeting of the Committee last Tuesday. When he mentioned these matters to me, he indicated that he had
it in mind to submit a paper to the Cabinet on them. I have unfortunately not had an opportunity to discuss it further with him, but I understand the view of the Cabinet Secretariat to be that these two issues should be settled inter-departmentally if possible.
2.
There was some discussion on the point raised in para. 10 at the meeting of the China and South East Asia Committee on Thursday, and in the light of that discussion, I have prepared for consideration the following possible text of a reply which could be sent to the Governor on this issue:-
"H.M. G. fully appreciate the dilemma presented. On the one hand, they recognise the very great importance of not taking unnecessarily soon any defensive measures which would prejudice the position of Hong Kong as an imperial trading base," which is the primary justification for the retention of Hong Kong as a British Colony. On the other hand if the execution of certain of these measures is unduly delayed there is a serious risk that either internal security, or the defence of the Colony against a possible external attack, may be prejudiced.
It is therefore a matter of timing on which is is not possible for valid conclusions to be reached in London. The whole matter should therefore be kept constantly under review by the Local Defence Committee.
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Having regard however to the fact that the only justification for the very exceptional measures which have already been taken, or are still under consideration, for the reinforcement of the Colony, is the existence of a very serious threat to the life of the Colony either from sabotage within or from attack without, or both, the only guidance which it is possible for H. M. G. to give in present circumstances is that, in the event of a difference of opinion between the military and civil authorities as to the
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Annex
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