CO_968_580_DEFENCE_OF_HONG_KONG_1957_1959 — Page 124

10.

The Chiefs of Staff directed that resolutions in our Far

East forces planned to take place later than December, 1959

should not be disclosed to the United States at this stage. 4.5. As a result of discussions the Minister of Defence had

with the B.D.C.C.(F.E.) and with the Governor of Hong Kong

during his August tour of the F.E., consideration was given by

H.M.G. in October to the advisibility of initiating talks with

the U.S1 at a political level concerning the joint defence of Hong Kong and approval for the B.D.C.C.(F.E.) to continue talks

with United States authorities was, withead

The matter was vained by 78.6. He rosult of the Prime Minister's recent visit to the

<in October 1957.

Wa-

OXO

・cancelled.

a result

during his President of the United States We understand that an Anglo-

LA American Working Group was been set up in Washington d to examine tetrootfetish combined measures for the defence of Hong Kong, is ineluded in their terms of reference,

In this context their first task is to reach an agreed estimate of "The Subversive and Military Threats to Hong Kong from Communist China up to the end of 1962" and their second to agree the necessary measures to deal with this threat.

VAmendment

The Joint Intelligence Committee have completed a report on "The Threat" and this has been approved by the Chiefs of Staff. The Foreign Office are now looking into the second part

of the Anglo-American Working Groups study.

*

The Foreign Office state' that although the J.I.C. paper

ni

wording

and its nited States counterpart have not yet been reconeiled, a first sight of the two studies indicate that they are broadly in agreement. The Foreign Office therefore suggest that the J.I.. report could be used for planning purposes without waiting for co-ordination of the two studies by the Working Group. They ask that the Joint Planning Staff should prepare a report on "Military Measures necessary to counter the Subversive and Military threats to Hong Kong from Communist China up to the and of 1962".

*

notin

sense,

the

made

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