TNAG-0121-FCO40-157-Kowloon-walled-city-and-adjoining-areas-1970 — Page 30

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CONFIDENTIAL

Desiɣatched

iR

19 December, 1969

19/2

Kowloon Walled City

Me

MARY/12

Thank you for sending me a copy of the Defence Branch paper SCR 5/3371/60V about possible action to exploit an emergency in the Walled City.

I assume that this is part of the contingency planning which you mentioned in paragraph 5 of

It would your letter Temp. Secret 31/69 of 1 October, 1969. be useful if we could in due course know what the Governor's Committee thought about the paper.

2. I outlined our views about the sensitive nature of any action which might be taken in the Walled City in my letter of 5 December. We discussed this fairly fully with the

We are still very doubtful whether Governor during his visit. it will be advisable in the foreseeable future to exploit an emergency situation in the Walled City to make a public demon-

Clearly if a major fire or stration of our authority there. building collapse occurs in the area, the Hong Kong Government is duty bound to take all necessary measures to safeguard the

But anything beyond life and property of the inhabitants.

immediate remedial measures would raise all kinds of difficult issues; and I should simply like to repeat the request in my letter of 5 December that we should be consulted at the earliest possible moment if any move of this kind is planned,

A. F. Maddocks Esq., Political Adviser, HONG KONG,

(James Murray)

LABT

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