FO371-24688 — Page 34

Page 34

13031/4/40.

Page 34

INDEXED

In Dept да

F3481

127

10

F

277 JUN 1940

253

Ville

CYPHER TELEGRAM from the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the Governor of Hong Kong.

TMUNDIATE

Sent 2.30 p... 25.6.40.

No.306 Secret.

Your telegrams No.341 and 347. Question

of evacuation has been considered by War Cabinet who have decided that evacuation of civil white population should not repeat not be made from Hong Kong for the present. Necessary preparations (including the provisio of shipping) should however be made for the evacuation to Manila of the wives and children of Service personnel in the event of evacuation being ordered at a later date. or this purpose service personnel includes civil service ·

as well as naval and military. Please consult G.0.C. and Naval Commander- in-Chief and telegraph present estimate of numbers involved in each category,

Further telegram regarding non-service personnel will follow as soon as possible. Meanwhile please telegraph revised estimate of numbers of (a) Europeans non-service, women and children (b) other non-service women and children to be evacuated by sea in event of order being given and what numbers would go to Manila and India respectively.

C. bhitamos 2716.

B.S.+G.

Colonial Office Reference No. 13031/4/40

With the compliments of the U.S. of S.

Colonial

27/6

Date2 6 JUN 1940

Reference_

Page 34

Page 34

Page 34