Flag A
Mr. Wilkinson
Sir D. Allen
Mr. O'Neill
Private Secretary
TOP SECRET
Mr Sammion
PA.
A. Gammera
This is
is good support.
La
1/5-
123
gauna file
15268.
ANG
FIGHTER AIRCRAFT FOR HONG KONG
Problem
The Commonwealth Secretary has minuted the Defence
Secretary, supporting the recommendation of the Governor
of Hong Kong that there should be a permanent fighter presence
in Hong Kong after the rundown of our forces in Singapore and
Malaysia. The Defence Secretary has replied confirming that
the Commonwealth Secretary's view is being taken into account
in the forthcoming peper on the defence of Hong Kong which is
under preparation in the Ministry of Defence, but stating
that the Chiefs of Staff see no justification for the permanent
stationing of fighter aircraft there. The Defence Secretary
adds that while it would be practicable to base a small force
of Hunters in the Colony until the mid-1970s, there would be
no justification for meeting the cost from Defence votes.
Recommendation
2. I recommend that the Secretary of State should support
the Commonwealth Secretary and should write to the Defence
Secretary in the terms of the attached draft minute.
Defence
Department concur.
TOP SECRET
Argument