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Headquarters
Far East Command Phoenix Park
c/o GPO Singapore
8 May 1967
CINCFE.1671/6070/11
Chief of the Defence Staff
Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee
SE
HONG KONG EVACUATION POLICY
As part of a general review of our plans for Hong Kong I have re-examined the evacuation policy for the Colony in conjunction with the Governor and CBF.
1.
2.
We are agreed that in a period of sudden crisis there would be too little time and too few resources to permit wholesale evacuation. In a period of prolonged tension, large scale evacuation could destroy morale in Hong Kong. In any case evacuation would call for a policy of selection which would cause considerable moral problems, especially as Europeans would be in no more danger than would other races. Finally, if fighting broke out it would not be possible to deflect forces from their primary role in order to protect evacuation.
and
3. Because of the se arguments the Governor, Hong Kong, I feel that evacuation plans should only be made to cover specialist intelligence personnel and similar especially vulnerable civilians. Plans should be limited to listing such people and to making broad arrangements for their rapid collection and protection until evacuation becomes possible by the most rapid means available at the time. The Governor, in consultation with the Commander, British Forces, Hong Kong, is to be responsible for keeping the se lists and arrangements up to date.
LL. The Governor is continuing to press the Commonwealth Office for their approval of these proposals but meanwhile you are requested to endorse them.
(Michael Carver) General
Commander-in-Chief Far East
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