TNAG-0035-FCO40-71-Relations-with-Macao-1968 — Page 159

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consider that additional ships are necessary, they could

charter another suitable vessel in Hong Kong, if there were

any available. The Hong Kong authorities would of course be

ready to help with this. A possible alternative would be to

is

send the "Timor" (which

Her capacity is 443 pas engers on a long voyage, but no doubt

she could take many more than that on her decks to Hong Kong.

She would have to lie off in C.P.G. waters and be loaded (as is

her normal practice when calling in there) by lighter or launch:

but if, as you suggested to me, the Chinese would not wish to

interfere with their departure, this need not present

is now returned to Hong Kong) to Macao.

insuperable difficulties.

4. It is quite clear that the Hong Kong authorities are

giving all possible help. The admission to Hong Kong without

fuss of a substantial but unannounced number of evacuees from

Macao during the last three days is evidence of our goodwill.

It would be very helpful to the Hong Kong authorities if your

Consul-General could provide them with some indication of the

Macao Government's contingency plans, particularly as regards

numbers and categories of people likely to be involved.

5. In fact, it seems to me that local arrangements are

proceeding as smoothly as they can in the circumstances and,

as I have already said, we think we can now leave it to our

local representatives to settle the details.

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