TNAG-2404-FCO40-3491-Hong-Kong-defence-and-public-order-1992 — Page 207

CODE 18-77

RESTRICTED

Miss Bourne

NPDD

Cc: Mr Stone HKD

27/2

Mists William's

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DEFENCE. Check left

Reference

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HKA 062/2

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HONG KONG DIVERSION AIRFIELD

1. You asked for comments on Mr West's letter of 16 January about the possible use of Canton as the diversion airfield from Hong Kong. You will have seen my exchange of telegrams with Peking and Hong Kong.

2.

Based on the advice from posts I do not see any objection in principle to approaching the Chinese over the possible use of Canton as a diversion airfield for Hong Kong. However the issues raised in Hong Kong telno 465 (copy attached) are ones to which the MOD will wish to give some thought. I agree that there might be some difficulty over the prospect of British military aircraft, carrying British soldiers in uniform and with their weapons, landing in Canton. This might argue for selective use of Canton. Kong's suggestion that Canton might be proposed as an additional rather than replacement airfield also seems sensible. MOD may wish to go into these issues in a little more detail with HQBF Hong Kong before any approach via our DA in Peking is made.

Hong

Arteals

A J Seaton

Far Eastern Department

24 February 1992

AS8ADG