resolved by Hong Kong yielding to a course of action which he
considers to be not in the Colony's best interests, the necessary
decision should be taken here at the appropriate (ministerial) level.
He would also like to see some ground rules laid down to cover the
processes of "full consultation and association".
A paper setting
out general guide lines on these matters has emerged from our
discussions with the Governor which is now being considered further
with the Board of Trade and Ministry of Technology.
9. Air Cover for Hong Kong after 1971
A unit of RAF fighter (Hunter) aircraft was stationed in
Hong Kong up to March, 1967, when it was withdrawn as part of the
defence review economies. Since then air cover for the Colony has
been provided by regular and frequent visits of fighter and other
RAF aircraft from Singapore.
Following the decision to withdraw British forces from
Singapore/Malaysia by the end of 1971, the Governor proposed that
fighter aircraft should once again be stationed in the Colony.
However, this proposal has had to be abandoned for financial reasons.
As an alternative, the Ministry of Defence have suggested
(with the approval of the Defence Secretary) that air cover for
Hong Kong after 1971 might be provided by periodic visits to the
Colony by RAF fighters and other aircraft which will be deployed on
training flights to Singapore for limited periods each year after
1971.
Although the period spent in Hong Kong by aircraft deployed on
such visits would amount to no more than an aggregate of twenty days
in each year (as compared with a total of approximately 100 days
under present arrangements) the Governor has said that he sees no
/ practical