A study of British archival documents regarding the British government's plans for defending Hong Kong against possible invasion, 1957-1962 = 從英國政府檔案探索英國政府應對香港被入侵的對策 (1957-1962)

Abstract

 Defense of British Hong Kong against a possible invasion during the Cold War was limited. Research has shown that the British Government with its tight defense budget several times redirected its resources and assets to other sectors and left Hong Kong with a tiny garrison during the 1950s and 1960s, The British cabinet discussed the possibility of deploying nuclear weapons to deter and counter any invasion. The British government also established a working group with American government for evaluating the threat for Hong Kong and its defense. Detailed discussion of Anglo-American working group is not fully mentioned in published research. The aim of the dissertation is filling the gap and further studying the plans the British government made in case Hong Kong was invaded. Based on American, British and Soviet archival documents, and comments made by leaders of the People’s Republic of China on Hong Kong, a study was conducted to figure out the British government’s consideration of a plan, and the stance America and the People’s Republic of China took towards Hong Kong. Analysis of the documents demonstrated neither conventional force nor nuclear force was fully capable of safeguarding Hong Kong, but mutual interest would safeguard. The result indicates that the mutual interest of America, Britain and the People’s Republic of China advanced through Hong Kong was the foundation of status quo, maintaining the existing state. The deception that America will retaliate with nuclear weapons after Hong Kong is invaded adopted by British government on the People’s Republic of China helped to convince the People’s Republic of China to maintain the status quo. Further research is needed to figure out whether Anglo-American cooperation on the defence of Hong Kong resumed after 1962, but this is hindered by the related document not being disclosed.