TNAG-0062-FCO40-98-Dormant-Commission-to-appoint-the-Commander-of-British-Force-1971 — Page 9

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con-

clusions and

recommend- ations

at its meeting on 21 December 1967, concluded that "we should

for the time being at any rate suspend planning for any large-

scale evacuation and rely on mounting an operation if the need

arose to evacuate as many valuable and sensitive persons as

was possible".

(OPD(67)40th Meeting, Item 3). The Committee

at the same time directed that an Aide Memoire setting out the

above conclusion should be sent to the Governor and Commander,

British Forces, Hong Kong.

12. It follows that in a situation such as is envisaged above

it would be essential for the Governor to remain at his post,

as happened in 1941. If he departed from the Colony at the

critical moment the effect on the morale of the people would

be disastrous, and it would undoubtedly seem to the world at

large and more particularly to those left behind in Hong Kong

that he was abandoning his post. If this view is accepted,

there is no purpose in retaining in being the Dormant Commission

issued in 1951 to the Commander, British Forces, Hong Kong,

and it is accordingly recommended that the Commission should

now be withdrawn and cancelled.

HONG KONG DEPARTMENT July 1971

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