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HKKI0/2 (1970)
Mr. Sutherland,
South Asia Department
60
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لها
HKK 10/1
Ar Cammara
:
Run-Down of Brigade of Gurkhas
As arranged, we discussed this informally with the Governor of Hong Kong on 9 December in the light of your minute of 2 December to Mr. Wilford.
2.
The figure of 4,500 was mentioned to the Governor as being the probable strength of Gurkha troops in Hong Kong after the present rundown arrangements were completed; this, we understood, would be the equivalent of four "teeth" units plus ancillaries. No decision had been taken on whether thereafter to retain them or phase them out altogether;
The
HM Ambassador in Kathmandu had expressed the view that neither of these options would lead to difficulties with the Nepalese Government. Ministry of Defence intended to postpone a decision until the end of 1970; we thought that a decision ought to be reached earlier.
3.
The Governor saw no difficulty about retaining a Gurkha element of this size in the Colony's garrison (although he would have preferred one more British and one less Gurkha unit). He agreed that the sooner a decision was taken on the future of the Gurkhas the better. He pointed out that the replacement of Gurkha units by British units would raise accommodation problems. The Hong Kong Government provided the original barracks for the Gurkhas and these would require modification before they could be used to accommodate British troops. The Governor did not consider that the Hong Kong Government could reasonably be expected to meet any expenditure which might be required on the provision of accommodation (whether by way of modification to existing Gurkha accommodation or otherwise) for British troops who might replace Gurkha units in the future, as a result of decisions taken by HMG for wider policy reasons of their own.
4. The Governor was informed that we would at a later stage be formally seeking his views on the desirability or otherwise of retaining the Gurkhas.
!
1
15 December, 1969
(W. S. Carter) Hong Kong Department
Copy to:
Mr. Sykes, Defence Policy Dept.
Mr. Wilford
CONFIDENTIAL