TNAG-0041-FCO40-77-Future-Sovereignty-of-Hong-Kong-Defence-Review-Working-Party-1967 — Page 48

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

TOP SECRET

hara14?

Rand

ave dipl. th

on her FoxNA

عمر

Ch

it w

17. 2

be ham qaver

Course of Action

!

12. Clearly, our right course is to continue to take firm action to maintain

law and order, being careful to give the least possible provokation to the

Сам со

Chinese.

If, however, we are unable to maintain control,, either because the 7

forces of law and order are worn down or because the Chinese take it into their

heads to push us out, we shall either have to get out or to accept a situation

analogous to that in Macao.

13. There is no prospect that we could achieve anything like an orderly

1

withdrawal. Apart from the British troops and their families, we have a

responsibility to protect all British subjects and Commonwealth citizens of

non-Chinese race. We have a residual responsibility for foreign nationals

(other than Chinese) if their own Governments are unable to make arrangements

a

for them. We have a responsibility towards the half of the Chinese population

which have, or are entitled to, the status of citizens of the United Kingdom

and Colonies. The numbers involved in these categories are

British troops and families

30,000

British subjects and Commonwealth citizens of non-Chinese race and their families

Foreign nationals (other than Chinese)

and their families

Chinese possessing, or entitled to

claim, citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies

not

31,000

14,500 (of whom 4,600 are

United States citizens)

1.9 million approximately.

Clearly there is no prospect that we could evacuate the 1.9 million Chinese

in the last of these categories. Some of them, however, have been very closely

associated with our administration and are particularly vulnerable to Chinese

communist retaliation. These might amount to something over 100,000 including

TOP Son

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.