TNAG-0056-FCO40-92-Evacuation-plan-1967 — Page 42

TOP SECRET

So far we have been able to avoid any direct answer.

But we may

well be pressed to give one, particularly if there were any leakage

of information relating to the limited Australian/United States

planning referred to in paragraph 6 above. The dilemma is that

if we say there are no plans, this could lead to a public outcry

here in the United Kingdom; while, if we said that plans were

being prepared, confidence in Hong Kong would be shattered.

8. We could perhaps continue to try to avoid giving a direct

answer to this question by taking the following lines:-

(a) We could say that we do not disclose such matters

Lord Beswick did in the debate in the House of Lords on

June 22).

as

(b) We could stand on our public statements about our

intention to maintain the authority of the Hong Kong

Government and to fulfil our responsibilities and

obligations to the Colony.

(c) We could infer that the evacuation of Hong Kong was

impracticable, pointing to the fact that there are some

two million citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies in

Hong Kong to whom cur responsibilities extend just as much

as they do to the expatriate community of British race.

But there are difficulties in all three approaches. To go on

saying that we do not disclose such matters implies that we do in

fact have plans, and constant repetition of this theme would

unquestionably be noted in Hong Kong. To try to evade the issue

on the lines of (b) and (c) above is not likely to satisfy anyone,

/ least

TOP SECRET