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continuance of the present situation, nothing less will satisfy than to
control themselves the situation in Hong. This we could not concede;
for it would involve giving them the power to bargain effectively
with us for the lives of people in Hong Kong for whom we have
responsibility; though against this it can be argued that these
are lives which we could not protect if the Chinese were determined
Moreover, we can only
that we should make a forced withdrawal.
maintain orderly government in Hong Kong while there is confidence
within the Colony that we intend to stay and to stay in control.
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If that confidence evaporated as it would if we were seen to be
surrendering our control of the situation to the Chinese, the
Chinese population in Hong Kong would have no alternative but
either to leave the Island or to come to their own terms with the
Chinese Communists.
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