W(B)L 51-7433
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
Registry No. HWB 10/9
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
Top Secret.
Secret.
Confidential,
Restricted. Unclassified.
PRIVACY MARKING
In Confidence
TOP SECRET
DRAFT
LETTER
Type 1 +
To:-
From Lord Shepherd
The Rt.Hon. Denis Healey,
MBE., MP.,
Leent of slits for
Minister of Defence.
Telephone No. & Ext.
Department
defence
In the long term,
The question whether fighter aircraft should once again be permanently stationed in
Hong Kong has, I believe, recently arisen in connection with the forthcoming study of the long-term policy for the defence of the Colony. I understand that the Air Force Department have been asked to examine this matter, having
regard to Commonwealth Office views.
He
The Governor of Hong Kong feels strongly that there should be a permanent fighter fresence in Hema Hlong on this subject/(his views are, I believe, shared by the Commander, British Forces, Hong Kong) and he raised it with me during my
visit to the Colony last October. subsequently set out his case in his Saving Despatch No.709 of 27 December, 1967, which
has since been circulated to the Chiefs of
Staff.
realise
I am conscious that in 1966 it was agreed
to withdraw the flight of Hunters stationed
in the Colony, air cover being provided thereafter by periodic visits of aircraft
based on Singapore. But since that decision was taken and implemented there have been
some. certain far reaching changes in circumstances affecting the Colony's position, i.e. the policy of confrontation initiated by the local communists (accompanied by a marked deteriora- tion in our relations with China) and our decision to withdraw from Singapore/Malaysia (including the recent decision not to maintain a special capability East of Suez).
also recognise
I realise, of course, that it would be difficult to sustain, on purely military grounds, a strong case for the restoration of a permanent fighter presence. The arguments for a permanent presence are, I admit,accept, essentially political. They have been
/ clearly
...