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ENCLOSURE TO COS 1419/7/6/68
HUNTERS FOR HONG KONG
Note by the Air Force Department
Introduction
1. In accordance with instructions (1) we have prepared
this Note on the feasibility of a small RAF element
consisting of four to five Hunters being provided for Hong
Kong backed by a Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force (HKAAF)
component, and taking into account the possibility of
maintenance backing by Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering
Corporation (HKAEC).
2.
The Chiefs of Staff had previously recorded their
view (2) that there was no military justification for the
permanent stationing of fighter aircraft in Hong Kong, but
that, if political considerations were over-riding and if
costs were met from outside the Defence Budget, a small
force of Hunter aircraft could be provided from 1970, when
No 20 Squadron is due to be withdrawn from Singapore.
force could be sustained until about 1975, by which time the
situation would have to be reviewed.
This
3. In this Note we therefore assume that an over-riding
political requirement is held to exist, and restrict our
examination to the feasibility of establishing an element of
fighters on the lines indicated.
Availability of Hunter Aircraft
4.
By 1970 the Hunter variant most readily available will
be the F/GA9. Although by modern standards the capability of
this type in the air defence role is severely limited, (no
Note:
(1)
(2)
Confidential Annex to COS 25th Meeting/68
COS 23/68 dated 26th March 1968
Page 1 of 7 pages
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/night