TOF SECRET
225
19th September, 1967.
28
HONG KONG CONTINGENCY FLANNING
I have one contribution to offer in relation to the amendments to
This is a difficult matter, and I hasten to say that I do not want to press this suggestion unduly at this late stage if others find difficulty with it.
27) OFDC (DR)(67)56 which were circulated yesterday.
The point arises in connection with the matter which bothered sone of us at the last meeting, that is to say the expectation of the Ministry of Defence that in any emergency evacuation a large number of troops would have to be left behind. The thinking behind this nor comes out more clearly in new paragraph 3, sub-paragrahs (b) and (c). makes it evident that if we had any freedom to choose the monent for an emergency evacuation, it would be to our advanta, e to put it in train before pressures on us had reached maximum. The new -peragraph (c) of the new paragraph 3 deals with the possibility of pronature action by other liations, and in particular the U.S.A. This seems to me to give a context for making brief Lention of the thought which I have been outlining above. This brings me to my positive suggestion which is that at the end of this new sub-paragraph (e) we might add the words:
"It might also provide cover for an evacuation by ourselves
in advance of a first class crisis (an action for which
it would otherwise be almost impossible to choose a Justifiable moment), thus making it morc feasible to remove larger numbers of British subjects, dependants and troops."
As I have said, I do not feel myself in a position to press thic point, and I am content to leave it in your hands in consultation with others concerned,
I am copying this to Cooper, Hall, Sykes and Wright.
E.M. Rosc, Esq., C.K.G.,
Cabinet Office,
Whitehall,
8.W.1.
TOP SECRET
(H.L. Jenkyns)
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