CO537-5001 — Page 62

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TOP SECRET CYPHER TELEGRAM

DESPATCHED BY 0.T.P.

1

OPERATIONAL IMMEDIATE

OZ. 1270 TOO. 031525A

TOD. 031826A

From

:-

Ministry of Defence, London.

To

:-

GH.Q., Far East Land Forces.

DEF 604.

3rd June 1949.

For FEDSEC for Casey from Price.

Following personal and private for Minister of Defence on arrival in Singapore from Secretary of State for the Colonies.

BEGINS.

I have felt it my duty to send a personal message to Governor of Hong Kong to prepare the ground for the discussions which you will have with

Following is text of my message. Begins.

(81) ora 94001/28/49. +(1) on the file

him.

In connection with the arrangements for the further reinforcement of Hong Kong my colleagues and I have been giving anxious consideration to the issues raised in your Secret Despatch No. 15 of the 3rd May. On the one hand we fully recognise that it is most important that the civil and commercial life of Hong Kong should be maintained to the fullest extent compatible with the developing situation. On the other hand we have been impressed with the necessity of adapting existing arrangements so as to render as effective as possible the exceptional efforts which we are making to place Hong Kong in a position to meet the various possible threats to its security.

ان

2. The Minister of Defence, who has taken part in all our deliberations, will be in a position to discuss these matters fully with you on his arrival and to inform you of the conclusions which we have reached. I have every confidence that you will be satisfied with the arrangements which we have worked out.

3. I should like to take this opportunity of letting you know how fully I recognise the burden of responsibility and anxiety which has rested and will continue to rest on your shoulders and of assuring you that, as always, you have my confidence in your work of administering the Colony.

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ENDS.