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ANNEX A to DP 9/68(C) (Preliminary Draft) (Continued)
the garrison should be permanently increased to 73 major units.
However, from late 1971 onwards, a reinforcing battalion can be
flown from the United Kingdom within 72 hours, including 24 hours
warning time. Therefore, it is accepted that, providing sufficient
warning of a deteriorating situation is received, the immediate
reserve battalion can be provided in time from the United Kingdom.
A second battalion, providing it is brought to 24 hours notice
when the decision is made to dispatch the first battalion, could
follow up and arrive in Hong Kong within a further 48 hours.
Should it be necessary to continue the reinforcement build-up
to a total of four battalions, then the additional two battalions
would be dispatched as circumstances required, and in the best
case could entail a total period of about 12 days deployment
time for the whole force.
The pre-stocking of unit equipment
in Hong Kong to the appropriate scale conditions this type of
reinforcement movement.
32. In the light of the foregoing we recognise that there might
be a requirement to deploy 6 major units simultaneously in
operations in support of internal security and on the border. Our previous recommendation (6) that the strength of the garrison.
should not fall below 63 major units is still valid, and we could
not recommend acceptance of the implementation of the Defence
and Oversea Policy Committee long term decision to reduce the
size of the garrison to 5 major units.
33.
Furthermore, a reduction in the strength of the garrison, initially from the present level of 73 to 63 major units, owing
to a lowering in the level of confrontation, followed by a further
reduction to 5 major units, could, in the light of the announced
withdrawals of United Kingdom forces from Malaysia, Singapore, and
the Persian Gulf, seriously undermine confidence in the colony by
casting doubt on our intention to stay there and invite a re-
surgence of the internal security troubles of 1967.
Note:
6•
COS 119/66
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