HWB.10/4.
TOP SECRET AND PERSONAL
2nd October, 1967.
Following upon the Ministerial discussions of the 22nd September
on contingency planning, I have been asked to transmit to you the following request:-
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"Existing information in London about the state of
evacuation planning in Hong Kong in an emergency is that it consists solely of Plan DIGIT, which is out-of- date. It is understood, however, that revised planning has recently been undertaken in Hong Kong covering a list of particularly sensitive personnel. We need to know urgently the scope of the present plans i.e. how many people do they cover, what plans are there, if any, for assembly and evacuation in emergency and what is the assessment of their likely effectiveness. On the assumption that the plans cover only a relatively small number of people (1.e. 200 to 300 rather than 2,000 or more) would it be possible, without undue risk to security, to increase the numbers to be evacuated and, if so, how far and on what basis? It is realised that for security reasons accurate answers to these questions will not be possible but the best indication possible should be given within the knowledge of the Governor and the Commander British Forces."
We should be very grateful if you could let us know what the position is.
2.
We, in the Commonwealth Office, are not aware that you have prepared any plans for a selective evacuation of particularly sensitive personnel. But we did have reason to believe that lists of such people had been prepared in Hong Kong. You will recall that I asked you about this shortly before the Ministerial meeting; you confirmed that lists of this kind were kept, compiled
His Excellency,
Sir David Trench, K.C.M.G., M.C
Government House,
HONG KONG.
TOP SECRET AND PERSONAL
/by the
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