TNAG-0060-FCO40-96-Strength-of-Hong-Kong-garrison-1968 — Page 77

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

Dd. 32855 Ed (4200)

3(4) OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT 1868 IN THE DEPARTMENT UNDER SECTION THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN RETAINED THIS IS A COPY

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

я брошь & Opcisins in the Colony is nomied by The acceleration

2

our withdrawal

it suited them. I and the Governor have in

mind the possibility of their mounting leaflet

Yar will reall

Sabah raids, as the Indonesians did in North Borneo

and Sarawak, as an indication of their support

for their sympathisers in Hong Kong and, of

course, of their power to intervene. It is

significant that what stopped the Indonesians

LAGUAR Kuching

Lal

was the R.A.F. presence in Hong Kong & Labuan

overriding

However, the important consideration is,

as always, the need to maintain local confidence

and morale. Our position in the Colony rests

on this, Although the people of Hong Kong

have shown a cheracteristic resilience in the

face of the developments of last year, there is

no doubt that their confidence in the future.

has been affected The communist campaign

za

how Singaporn.

1

in Hong Kong has not ceased;

the indications

particularly after the decisiar

alait Sinjapon.

are that it is entering a lengthy phase of

non-violent "political struggle" and that steady

communist pressure will be maintained;

Against

this background the credibility of our intention

to stand by the Colony assumes an even greater

importance (this is the point the Sevena maker in his most recent letter).

We have in the last year given a ssurances.

on a number of peessions, in Parliament and

elsewhere, that we are determined to maintain

our position and authority in the Colony and to

fulfil our responsibilities to the people;

need to let it be seen that we mean this, I

believe that the ordinary people of Hong Kong

expect us to maintain our position in circum-

stances short of a major war, They will be

/increasingly.

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