number of American businessmen in Hong Kong. The President said that it seemed to him that Hong Kong ms one of those areas in which we should try to restrict U. S. visas to Americans who really had an obligation to be in Hong Kong. Admiral Radford expressed doubt as to whether there was a particular need to place restrictions on the entry of Americans in- to Hong Kong. He thought that the dangers of a sudden Communist move against Hong Kong had been somewhat overdrawn, and that if the Communists did attack Hong Kong sufficient warning would have seen provided to permit us to evacuate all Americans and Europeans. The real problem in Hong Kong was one of internal subversion rather than attack from outside the colony. The President commented that he was always struck by the fact that the United States always seemed in the first instance obliged to devote itself to humanitarian moves, such as rescuing people who have no business to be in a danger spot, instead of being able to deal in the first instance with matters of direct interest to the United States in foreign areas such as Hong Kong. Admiral Radford again pointed out that Hong Kong harbor was generally so full of ships that evacuation of Americans and Europeans could be completed in a few hours. Secretary Wilson commented that most of the evidence to date indicated that the Chinese Commnists regarded Hong Kong in British hands as an asset rather than otherwise. General Cabell cammented that while the Chinese Commnists consistenifly maintained a record of their right to take Hong Kong, they showed no signs of intending to do so, and the record to date consisted merely of protests. The National Security Council: a. Discussed the draft statement of policy on the sub- ject contained in NSC 5717, in the light of the views Io of the Joint Chiefs of Staff thereon transmitted by the reference memorandum of August 5, 1957. Adopted the statement of policy contained in NSC 5717. . 7. ca. NSC 5717, as adopted, subsequently approved by the President and circulated for implementation by all gppropriate Executive departments and agencies of the U. 8. Goverment, and referred to the Operations Coordinating Board as the coordinating agency designated by the President. -4- TOP SECRET REPRODUCED AT THE DWIGHT. D. BISENBOWER LIBRARY ° =z NOTE: mata. vie. aeatlicacaa deelUi as ener nineteen