CO_968_580_DEFENCE_OF_HONG_KONG_1957_1959 — Page 107

Page 107

3.

Let me say at the outset that we entirely agree

that the first step must be the acceptance for

rejection) by United Kingdom Ministers of

for planning purposes

political

assumptions, or something like them. We agree also that/detailed joint planning on the defence of Hong Kong ideally the accept and by the h.S. Gaul of these assumptious should a obtained Auton we embark must take place in the Far East, and that the acceptance a) (ar de-embark) on

and

thank

•

by the United States Government of the assumptions

planning os

should rightly be sought before we embark (or re-embark)

on that exergise,

But neither the Foreign Office nor

ourselves think that we will succeed in securing that

acceptance without there being a fairly frank & full

in the to Anglo-4-5. Working brows

discussion of our position in Hong Kong and an

/of

indication of what we ourselves are doing on both the

ve

subversion and the military fronts to keep our end up.

It must be remembered that our main objective will, if

accepted, represent a considerable step for the United

States to take. They are unlikely to take it without

a good deal of encouragement.

thu

h.k.

Indeed it is the intention q Prufsonatory working Party to suderint proposals to u.k. munistes

on the political objectives to th pundured in discussion with the Americans. These salitual objectives with in effect constitute planning assumptions on which wh will as seeking

unwilling

They may even be unlikely

to take it without knowing in advance pressity what jointTM

chuld

military plans een be made and what the timing and cost,

etc., will be. We hope that they won't want to go into great

such detail at this stage and that they would, at the

satisfied with

most, be paspaned to see an outline plan or concept of

defence worked out But we do feel that at the least the U.S. Sout

Anglo-4.5.

they will want a fairly full report by the Washington

Working Group, and it was with this request in mind

that at the meeting of our U.K. Preparatory Working

agreed to

Party on the 31st December we put in hand the preparation

>

of two papers

·

one on the extent and capability of the

our position face

Hong Kong garrison to maintain itself in the event of the

agreed threat in giroumstances in which the United States

without

assistance:

;

did not accept the given assumptions for planning

Page 107

Concurent.

American

the basis of on which they would on; In Aupared to acceptione

consider

/

the poletual sospir courant went involved in

1

ain assumptikes. If that stafi is reached

detailed

planning

Cotta

can i causferred "Hon East

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/purposes

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