TNAG-0062-FCO40-98-Dormant-Commission-to-appoint-the-Commander-of-British-Force-1971 — Page 7

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1967

Directive

9. Early in 1967 as a result of consultations between Commander,

British Forces, Hong Kong; the Commander-in-Chief, Far East, and the

Governor, an agreed new draft directive was prepared and submitted

to the Chiefs of Staff who approved it in June, 1967. The relevant

section of the directive read as follows :-

"Task"

"Your task is to assist the Hong Kong Government to maintain

stability and security, and to sustain confidence in H.M.G's.

intention to maintain the British position in the Colony.

You are :

(a) to support the civil administration and Police:

(i)

in the maintenance of law and order within the

Colony and on its frontiers

2 os

HWB 10/23.

(ii)

in dealing with natural disasters and similar

eventualities

(b) to be prepared, in the event of rising tension between the

Gour

(c)

Hong Kong Government/H.M.G. and the Chinese to deploy

such force as may be necessary to sustain confidence and

discourage armed incursions or aggression, in accordance

with political direction at the time

to be prepared, in the event of Chinese armed aggression

to offer such resistance as may be appropriate in the

circumstances then prevailing, in accordance with

political direction at the time."

The directive also contains the following passage:

"The Governor of Hong Kong is responsible, subject to the

direction of Her Majesty's Government, for decisions of

policy on the security of Hong Kong and accordingly no

military action in your operational area should be taken

without his agreement. As my representative you will

/ advise

...