Reference.....
references to our intention to stay in Hong Kong or to the
fact that there are about two million British subjects in
the Colony (thereby implying that we think planning for
evacuation is unnecessary or impracticable) is not likely
to satisfy those in the United Kingdom who would have us put British "belongers" in a special category.
6. In the event that Ministers decide against the
preparation of any evacuation plans, the Secretary of State
may wish to consider with his colleagues whether public or
other enquiries should be met with a flat denial that we
have plans for evacuation. This, to my mind, is the only
satisfactory way of meeting the all-important point of
confidence in Hong Kong. Of the alternatives I consider
that a refusal to disclose or discuss such matters in
public is the most suitable (and this would appear to be the best line to take if Ministers decide that some plans should be prepared).
L.s. Carter
(W.S. Carter)
Sir Arthur Galsworthy
6.11.67.
The background to this is given in Mr. Carter's
minute above. When I was in Hong Kong I discussed this with the Governor and the telegram at (40)
was in fact drafted by him and cleared with me.
Subsequently I also discussed the question of bringing the lists of specially vulnerable people up to date with Mr. Elliott, the Political Adviser, and with Mr. Williams, the Acting Defence Secretary. The initiative for the meeting was taken by Mr. Elliott. He explained to me that
their preliminary enquiries on this subject had already given rise to rumours and that they were afraid that if they persisted in them the rumours
would gain ground that we were planning some sort
of evacuation. Both Mr. Elliott and Mr. Williams
also stressed that they could not carry any local
planning any further without having to consult a
number of people and this was bound to constitute an extremely dangerous risk. I therefore agreed
with them that the matter should be dropped
for the
time
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