TNAG-0059-FCO40-95-Strength-of-Hong-Kong-garrison-1968 — Page 58

62

ريون

R.

104.

Pl. issue letter at

ANG

11.67

fe.

-Тор Сору

(63)

1

CYPHER CAT.A.

ROUTINE HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NO 1705

В хот

?

Сбрай gone:

have

ArG

281.

Du

1710

W0,

in

TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

18 NOVEMBER

R

You

Pe

сбри

to M Henn, MOD

if Wilson, FED

d maic

20.

ANG 11.67.

TOP SECRÉT

YOUR TELEGRAM 2324 : HONG KONG GARRISON.

IT WOULD BE TRUER TO SAY THAT I ACCEPT THE VIEWS OF THE C-IN-C

FAR EAST AND CBF HONG KONG THAT, IN THE SITUATION WHICH IS

DEVELOPING HERE, THE PRESENCE OF LARGE NUMBERS OF SERVICE FAMILIES

COULD DETRACT SERIOUSLY FROM OUR ABILITY TO CONTAIN COMMUNIST

OPERATIONS SINCE:

CAD WITH ONLY A SLIGHT. DETERIORATION OF THE SITUATION, OR

DIFFERENCE IN LINE OF COMMUNIST ATTACK, THESE FAMILIES WOULD

BE AN UNDESIRABLE PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRACTION AND WOULD CALL FOR

AN EVEN MORE UNDESIRABLE DISSIPATION OF RESCURCES FOR THEIR

PROTECTION.

(B) A LARGE SCALE WITHDRAWAL OF FAMILIES IN THE FACE OF A

DETERIORATING SITUATION CANNOT BE CONTEMPLATED, BECAUSE OF THE

UNACCEPTABLE EFFECT WHICH THIS WOULD HAVE ON CONFIDENCE AND

MORALE THROUGHOUT THE COLONY.

2. IN ADDITION, I UNDERSTAND THAT IT WILL EVENTUALLY BE NECESSARY

TO REPLACE THE GURKHA BATTALIONS WITH BRITISH, AND THE ESSENTIAL

FACILITIES TO ENAELE THEM TO BE ACCOMPANIED COULD NOT BE MADE

AVAILABLE HERE ANYWAY. IF UNACCOMPANIED TOURS FOR A CONSIDERASLE