TNAG-0312-FCO40-348-Termination-of-Dormant-Commission-for-Commander-of-British-f-1972 — Page 14

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6. The assessed capacity of the Hong Kong

Garrison at that time to resist any such

aggression was reflected in the Military

Directive to the Commander British Forces

which was then operative and which contained

the following sentence:

7.

"Task. Should an attack on the

Colony develop you will take all

measures necessary to defeat it and

restore the situation in the Colony."

In the years since 1950 the size of the

Garrison has been reduced and the Chinese

potential for aggression has substantially

increased. The present situation is that

not only would it be impossible effectively

to defend Hong Kong against a determined

Chinese attack; it would be extremely

unlikely that resistance to such an attack

could be prolonged for a period sufficient

to mount anything more than a last minute

crash operation to evacuate a small number

of people including the more sensitive

personnel.

8. This gradual change in the situation

has been reflected in a series of

modifications over the years in the role of

the garrison as set out in successive

Military Directives; and the current

Directive, in describing the task of the

Garrison in relation to external aggression,

prescribes the role of the Garrison as

follows:-

"to be prepared, in the event of

Chinese armed aggression, to identify

such aggression and to offer such

3.

/resistance