TOP SECRET
by the Chine
ennmoaches are very vulnerable to Chinese
Page 3 Paragraph 9
Delete:
Substitute:
Third sentence
"For the time being we are also retaining for use in Hong Kong two minesweepers which it was originally intended to withdraw. 11
AU PA
Hong Kong and would thus do harm to trade and tourism. with the movement or working of ships using Hong Kong would also damage the Colony's trade.
10. The general conclusion is that, with the very large majority of the local Chinese on our side, we can hold out in Hong Kong for as long as we can contain action of the sort described above and as long as we maintain the permanent military garrison at a level of 63 major units instead of reducing it by the equivalent of one major unit in accordance with the recent review of defence expenditure. The police are at present firmly in control, with British troops held in reserve. Nevertheless, there is always the risk of a rapidly escalating series of incidents, not necessarily ordered by Peking, producing a situation in which Peking took a positive decision to expel us. Moreover, the possibility exists that disturbances of this kind, even if they did not lead to loss of confidence in our ability to hold on, would lead to a falling off in the rate of investment necessary to maintain Hong Kong's economy and hence at best to a slow decline in her economic position. There is a danger that this process would affect local confidence.
11.
Our main responsibility is to our nationals and friends in the Colony. 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 for them. We have a responsibility towards about half
(97793)
3
TOP SECRET
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.