WIBL 51-7433
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
139
Registry
No. HWB 10/9
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
DRAFT
letter
Type 1 +
To:-
Top Secret.
Secret.
Confidential.
Sir David Trench,
K.C.M.G.,M.C.,
Restricted. Unclassified.
PRIVACY MARKING
HONG KONG.
From
Sir Arthur Gals
Telephone No. Eworthy
Department
...In Confidence
You will be glad to learn that on 29 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.
You saw the Defence and Oversea Policy
Committee paper setting out these proposals
while you were here. They were:-
Army
Navy
1
R.A.F.
7 major units
2 frigates
5 mine counter-measure vessels
1 small oil tanker
6 Whirlwind helicopters
RAF Kai Tak
RAF Tai Mo Shan
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 aircraft 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 R.A.F. personnel and partly
on Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force personnel and
that maintenance might be provided by the
TOP SECRET
H.K.A.E.C.