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some might argue that China would never waste nuclear weapons against Hong Kong and that the situation would not be greatly changed, business after all being business; and it is one of the characteristics of Hong Kong to get on with its business and try to pretend that there is nothing really to worry about. Business men here often and with deliberation overlook inconvenient facts. Be that as it may, known possession of nuclear weapons by the Chinese would be too much to overlook, and I think that the fact, particularly if the Communists drew attention to it from time to time as they might consider it effective to do, would shake morale in Hong Kong. Some might then suppose that, if, thereafter, we put nuclear weapons in our window too, we could restore confidence. This I do not myself believe. My conclusion, at the moment, at any rate, is that for many the stakes would be getting too high, and the tension unbearable, and that the process of making adjustments in one's attitude to the Chinese Government and the Communist Party would receive a stimulus.
6. I am sending copies of this letter to Edric Bastyan and to Ian Wallace, whose correspondence reference is FED 82/454/010. Yours is H.1191/33/59G.
(Yours ever)
(sgd) ROBIN BLACK
His Excellency,
Angus Mackintosh, Esq., C. M.G.,
Acting Commissioner General for the United Kingdom in South East Asia,
Phoenix Park,
SINGAPORE.
c.c. Lt. General Sir Edric Bastyan, K.B.E., C.B.,
Commander British Forces, Hong Kong.
W. I. J. Wallace, Esq., C.M.G., O.B.E.,
Colonial Office.
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TOP SECRET & PERSONAL
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RESTRICTED
75757/01 48.
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