Ref: TSX 1/57
69
TOP SECRET
GOVERNMENT HOUSE
HONG KONG.
89
5th
March, 1968.
Dear Arthur
Since sending you my savingram No. 709 of
27th December, 1967, in which I set out the case for maintaining a fighter presence in Hong Kong for the years ahead, we have had the January announcement of further defence cuts. These will inevitably have a number of consequences for Hong Kong which we will soon have to examine in detail.
As far as the future of fighters is concerned, the prospect of the earlier withdrawal from Singapore adds new force to the case stated in my savingram. As you know, one of the reasons justifying a permanent fighter presence in Hong Kong has been the likely difficulty in maintaining regular visits from Singapore when the new generation of fighters is introduced. Now, in the same time scale, there will be no RAF aircraft in Singapore to make any visits at all. This inability to give fighter support emphasises the point I made concerning the importance of main- taining general confidence here in Her Majesty's Government's intention to maintain its position in Hong Kong. Indeed, it is a factor which underscores all the arguments we have put forward in the past for a permanent fighter presence here.
I am sure this point has already been taken in London but I felt I should write to you to let you know my particular interest in this aspect of our future position. Perhaps this is a matter which I might have a chance to discuss further while in London.
Yours ever
David.
Sir Arthur Galsworthy, K. C.M.G.,
Commonwealth Office,
LONDON, S. W. 1.
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