IWB 10/9
TOP SECRET
zent,
139
10/6
10th June, 1968.
You will be glad to learn that on 29th May Ministers approved without modification the Defence Secretary's proposals for the future strength and structure of the Royal Navy and Army components of the Hong Kong Garrison after our withdrawal from Singapore and Malaysia
by the end of 1971.
2. You saw the defence and Oversea Policy Committee paper setting out these proposals while you were here.
Army
Navy
R. A. F.
S
7% major units
- 2 frigates
Katy
They were:
5 mine counter-measure vessels
1 small oil tanker
6 Whirlwind helicopters
RAF Kai Tak
RAF Tai Mo Shan
3. Ministers also approved the proposal for the inclusion in the Garrison of a permanent RAF fighter element of Hunter aircraft, subject to further examination being given to the possibility that the air- craft might be manned and serviced from local resources, This is clearly a reference to your idea (which Chiefs of Staff have asked the Air Force Department to examine) that the fighter presence might be based partly on RAF personnel and partly on Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force personnel and that maintenance might be provided by the
II. K. A. E. C.
4.
So far as finance is concerned, Ministers agreed that it would be premature to attempt to decide now where the costs of the garrison should be bome and called for a further assessment to be made of the
actual costs involved.
5. This, I think you will agree, is a pretty satisfactory outcome. It seems to me that the most important thing now to concentrate on is
Sir David Trench, KCMG., MC., Hong Kong.
the