TNAG-0043-FCO40-79-Future-Sovereignty-of-Hong-Kong-Defence-Review-Working-Party-1968 — Page 127

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(e) A Sino-American war in which the United Kingdom

supported the United States or granted facilities

418.

in Hong Kong for operations against China.

In the situations envisaged in (a), (b) and (c) of

paragraph above, China's initial aims would probably be

limited, as during 1967, to making the Hong Kong Government

acknowledge a dependent status (i.e. a "Macao-type" situation).

The next step, an attempt to take over the Colony, would

probably be taken only if this initial objective were not

achieved.

427. It is unlikely that China would take Hong Kong by direct

military attack, though such an attack could not but succeed.

It would be more in keeping with China's position on the

efficacy of indigenous revolution to create a situation in

which local action would seem to have caused a total breakdown

and where a resort to military force would be necessary, if at

all, only to administer the coup de grâce. However, a display

of military force might be mounted in order to allow the

Chinese to pose to the populace as "liberators".

The effect of China's attitude on policy in Hong Kong

43%

•

Since China has the power at any time to take over Hong

Kong but is prepared for the moment in her own interests not

to do so;

and since such toleration of a colony on her door-

step is something of an embarrassment from the ideological and

nationalist viewpoint, it is always necessary for the Hong Kong

Government to maintain a balance between the necessity to

/preserve

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