SECRET
ANNEX A TO DOP 528/69
(Preliminary Draft) (Continued)
hav landed on British owned islands off the New Territories (6).
It is important that troops can be deployed quickly in effective
8 ength to deal with such incidents in the future and to meet this
requirement a platoon lift of helicopters would be necessary.
18.
Finally, S of S has suggested (3) that there should be "a trade-
off between the cost of the forces on the ground and increased mobility".
If conditions in Hong Kong remained static it might be possible, as a
result of the increased mobility provided by additional helicopters,
to make some reductions in the strengths of combat units.
However,
as the population grows IS problems will increase and the existing.
Garrison will require the additional helicopters in order to meet
these extra commitments.
CONCLUSIONS
19. We conclude that:
a. The annual cost of four additional Whirlwind helicopters
in Hong Kong would be £143,000 budgetary and £42,500
overseas expenditure.
Acceptable savings in the Hong Kong Garrison would
achieve annually £6,000 budgetary and £26,700 overseas ex-
penditure now, and a further £5,400 and £20,000 respectively
from 1972.
C.
Further savings of £104,200 budgetary and £203,700 overseas
expenditure could be achieved by withdrawing or disbanding certain
minor Army and RAF units from the Garrison but because of the
penalties involved this is not recommended.
d. The need for the four additional helicopters remains and
there is now further operational justification for the requirement.
20. We finally conclude that, although the acceptable budgetary savings
Note:
3.
6.
M05/14 dated 30th June 1969
KET
Hong Kong to FCO Diptel 622 dated 8 Aug 69 and Diptel 708 dated 9 Sep 69.
A - 5