SECRET
2-
(၁)
and that he should argue as outlined in the speaking
notes below against the proposals on the apportion-
ment of costs.
Far Eastern Department concur.
Speaking Notes
3. I concur generally in the proposals for the future
strength and structure of our forces in Hong Kong set out
at paragraph 2 of the Defence Secretary's memorandum.
4.
The second point raised by the Defence Secretary for
discussion concerns the stationing of fighter aircraft in
the colony. I strongly support the Governor of Hong Kong
and the Commonwealth Secretary in their belief that a force
of fighter aircraft should be stationed in Hong Kong after
the withdrawal of the present squadron in Singapore in 1970. .
I have already mentioned my reason for doing so in a letter
to the Defence Secretary. I believe that under certain
circumstances we may wish to deploy aircraft in Hong Kong
to deal with intrusions into our air-space. In the absence
of a permanent detachment we would be faced with an invidious
choice between allowing the intrusions to go unchallenged,
or raising the temperature by sending out aircraft from the
United Kingdom. No such choice would arise if a small
fighter force were permanently stationed in Hong Kong.
A unit of four Hunters and a Hunter trainer as proposed in
the Defence Secretary's memorandum would seem to meet the
purpose.
And this would seem the course least provocative
to the Chinese consistent with maintaining our own interests.
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/5.