(118281) Dd. 391599 1,500M 2/69 Hw.
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Registry No.
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
Top Secret.
XXX.
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PRIVACY MARKING
..In Confidence
DRAFT
TOP SECRET
To:-
Mr. Wilford
Type 1 +
From
Telephone No. & Ext.
Department
Flag Hình 10/4
A ow
Flag Bor
HWB5.10/4.
Hong Kong top secret telegram No. 754 (copy
attached) raises an issue which will require very
early action at ministerial level in order to avert
the danger of the question of the evacuation of Hong
Kong in an emergency becoming the subject of public
debate in Parliament and possibly elsewhere.
2. The party of Peers and Members of Parliament to
which the telegram refers (see list attached) were in
Hong Kong from 20 to 24 September in the course of a
visit to the Services in the Far East Command which
was arranged by the Ministry of Defence. The party
is scheduled to arrive back in the United Kingdom
during the afternoon of Thursday, 25 September.
3. It is very desirable that contact should be
established with the party, as soon as possible after
their return to this country, to impress on them the
extreme danger of raising the issue of the evacuation
of Hong Kong outside very limited circles. The Minister
may consider that this might best be done through the
medium of Lord Blyton although in the case of some
members of the party it might be preferable to make a
direct approach to the persons concerned.
4.
It will be recalled that at a meeting of the
Defence and Overseas Planning Committee on 21 September,
1967, Ministers considered a memorandum by the
Commonwealth Secretary on contingency planning for Hong
Kong. Lord Shepherd explained to the Committee that it
/ would
TOP SECRET
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