TNAG-0056-FCO40-92-Evacuation-plan-1967 — Page 48

#

TOP SECRET

Im. Willin

Ford Shuphunde

with the aft.

now, plesa, to the S. of I?

agrees with the

you

Women

DRAFT 0.P.D. PAPER

onom

you

Band 24/11

Flag-"A"

Flag

Contingency Planning: Hong Kong

(Memorandum by the Commonwealth Secretary)

43/i) I attach a report by an inter-departmental Working Party of

43/(ii)

Flag "g

SA

officials on the feasibility of planning for an emergency

evacuation from Hong Kong, with an annex on the financial and

economic measures which would have to be taken. It was prepared in

accordance with the instructions given on 28th July (0.P.D.(67)

28th Meeting, Item 8) for the preparation of contingency plans and,

in particular, in the light of the requirement that knowledge of

the preparation of such plans should be confined in Hong Kong to

the Governor and the Commander British Forces.

2. Two key considerations are noted in the report by the

officials:-

(1) The need for absolute secrecy prevents any detailed

planning and prior preparation "on the ground"

(11) Once evacuation was ordered, the internal security situation

would deteriorate very rapidly and plans would have to be

implemented in a very short time (probably no more than 48

hours).

and very possibly, much less

The conclusions are therefore that only outline plans could be

prepared; that, in the absence of detailed arrangements and

prior preparation, any outline plan for a large-scale evacuation

(paragraphs 5-7) could not be effectively implemented in the time-

scale and conditions of enforced withdrawal (paragraphs 8-10); that

in the circumstances of enforced withdrawal, a very small-scale

evacuation of vulnerable and "sensitive" people, with their

dependants, might be possible.

TOP SECRET

3.