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their good treatment if they stayed.
The latter would be difficult to obtain since all Chinese governments have regarded persons of Chinese race as Chinese nationals and, even if obtained, would probably be worthless.
25. A special effort would have to be made to discharge our responsibilities to those Chinese men and women who have been closely associated with our administration, have openly demonstrated their loyalty to the British connections and are therefore particularly vulnerable to Chinese retaliation.
In this category
fall many serving in the Police Force and Civil Service and prominent in public service; many will be British subjects but some will have no claim to this status. These, particularly the Police, would have to be given the option of remaining or leaving. It is difficult to quantify this category; a very rough estimate is that they would number about 20,000 30,000 (with their dependents, about 90,000 - 135,000), but this figure might be a considerable under-estimate.
Responsibilities for Assets
26. It would be feasible in a planned and phased withdrawal to arrange the removal or transfer of a considerable proportion of British and Hong Kong-owned moveable assets (including military and particularly "sensitive" equipment and stores). There would remain large investments in fixed assets (building and heavy plant) for which nothing could be realised except by agreement with the Chinese. We cannot expect Chinese acquiescence or co-operation in either operation, particularly so far as Hong Kong-owned assets are concerned.
27. Foreign nationals would have to look to their own Governments for protection of their assets. The American assets (estimated recently at £40 million) would be very vulnerable and would undoubtedly be expropriated.
D. CHINESE INTERESTS
28. Hong Kong provides China with a window on the outside world,
It has and with an easy point of access for trade and travel. served as a centre from which to mount subversive activities against the free world, particularly in the field of subversive propaganda.
Foreign Exchange Earnings
29. China earns a large (£170 millions in 1966). are foodstuffs (40%-50%);
surplus on visible trade with the Colony
The bulk of China's exports to Hong Kong there is also a considerable market for Chinese textiles, simple machinery and other manufactured goods. From this trade surplus, from remittances by Overseas Chinese in or through Hong Kong (estimated at £30-£35 million in 1966) and from the operations of Chinese financial and commercial enterprises in
/ Hong Kong
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