2
Page 67 United Kingdom may bring to bear on the United
States Government to alter their policy towards
China,
a military attack upon Hong Kong seems improbable.
7
On the other hand, the Chinese have never accepted
that Hong Kong is not an integral part of China, and should
they come to believe that the United States Government would
not come to the aid of Her Majesty's Government in defence of
Hong Kong, or should the garrison be seriously depleted they
would probably consider that the Colony could be taken without
total war. This might be effected by the entry of Chinese
troops ostensibly to restore order and protect Chinese
interests during disturbances (perhaps fomented by the CPG)
- a move which could plausibly be justified to the world by
their propaganda.
8.
In any case they are likely to continue their
present 'softening up' tactics by infiltrating labour
organizations, by promoting cultural exchanges, by pressing
for unrestricted travel across the border and consular
representation, and by exploiting every minor incident to
raise disputes with the Hong Kong Government. All these
activities are calculated to persuade the residents of Hong
Kong to regard themselves, either for present purposes or in
anticipation of the time when Hong Kong will revert to China,
as citizens of the Chinese People's Republic.
Our report is annexed to this paper.
Conclusions
9.
(a)
Page 67
We conclude that:
The most effective and quickest method of taking
Hong Kong is likely to be by airborne landings at
Kai Tak and Sek Kong and possibly at Shek Ko and
Happy Valley. There would also be a simultaneous
land attack across the frontier, and a seaborne
assault across beaches in the Castle Peak, Tolo
Page 67 Harbour and Port Shelter areas.
(b) Sufficient
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