TNAG-0042-FCO40-78-Future-Sovereignty-of-Hong-Kong-Defence-Review-Working-Party-1967 — Page 215

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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT)

OFD (67) 61

25 July 1967

CABINET

COPY NO.

149

DEFENCE AND OVERSEA POLICY COMMITTEE

HONG KONG

Note by the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs

At their meeting on 24th July, the Ministerial Committee on Hong Kong considered the attached interim report by an interdepartmental Working Party of officials on the prospects for withdrawal from Hong Kong. 2. The Ministerial Committee accepted the proposals in paragraphs 20 and 21 of the report that plans should now be prepared as a matter of urgency against the possibility that an emergency evacuation of the Colony might become necessary. It is proposed that a plan for evacuation would be produced by a small team assembled within the Commonwealth Office, and that the Treasury would prepare a plan to safeguard Hong Kong's considerable financial assets. If confidence it not to be undermined in Hong Kong, it is essential that there should be no suspicion that we are even considering the possibility of having to withdraw from the Colony; knowledge of the preparation of these plans must therefore be kept to the smallest possible circle within Whitehall and should not become known to the Hong Kong Government,

3. Officials are also preparing a wide-ranging study of the long-term prospects for Hong Kong as the basis for future policy. My Committee propose that this study should cover possible means of deterring Cirinese military aggression against Hong Kong, The Foreign Office are also preparing for the Hong Kong Committee a paper on our relations with China. The Committee intends to act as a forum for keeping under review the situation in Hong Kong as it develops.

Commonwealth Office, S.W.1.,

25th July 1967.

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H.B.