From:
CONFIDENTIAL
R. J. . Abraham
3.
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Head of Defence Secretariat 6
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
Main Building Whitehall London SW1A 2HB
Telephone 01-218 7036 (Direct Dialling)
01-218 9000
(Switchboard)
P. L. O'Keefe, Esq, MVO
Your reference
Our reference
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DEASE of the des DF43C
this morning).
Hong Kong and Indian Ocean Department D/DS6/38/168/3
Room 246
Foreign and Commonwealth Office King Charles Street, London SW1
VISIT OF
.
Date
tu.
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November 1975
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In speaking to Mu. Abranion I recommed four option to continue took the day to
DEFENCE AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS SUB-COMMITTEE
TO HONG KONG
field someone
You minuted Mr Ward in my Division and others on 10th October about the informal briefing the FCO are to give to the DEASC on Tuesday, 11th November on certain political subjects before their visit to Hong Kong.
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You asked the Ministry of Defence to prepare to speak on the item on:-
"The use of Hong Kong by the US Navy
and the support given by the US to the security of HongKong.
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I have consulted those in the Ministry of Defence who might be expected to be aware of any understandings or agreements with the Americans, but nothing has come to light apart from some local steps for assistance to the US Navy.
•
In a little more detail, our researches have produced no evidence of any agreement or understanding governing US support to Hong Kong. The fact that there is no reference to US military support in our contingency plans for the territory is a good indication that there is no US commitment of any kind. Speculation about American policies in hyp o thetical circumstances is of course possible, but not relevant to the briefing of the DEASC. We feel that they should be told no more than that the security of Hong Kong is a UK responsibility in which we could not expect the US to share.
271 2
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CONFIDENTAL.
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