9. The queries raised by the Governor are not likely to present any real obstacle to accepting the alterna- tive scheme of training detachment visits which, we agreed, should be recommended for his approval. Another reason for seeking ministerial approval for the alternative scheme is the fact that in May 1968 Ministers (in DOPC) gave conditional approval to the proposal of having a Hunter unit stationed in the Colony: if that proposal is now to be abandoned it would be as well to have ministerial approval for so doing. The question of informing DOPC of such a decision would also need to be considered and the tim- ing for this purpose would need to be discussed with the Ministry of Defence at a later stage in the light of the Minister's wishes. The Ministry of Defence are already committed to going back to DOPC when they have produced the best possible assessment of the full cost of the Hong Kong commitment and that might be the most appropriate time to inform the Committee of any deci- sion to abandon the idea of a permanent Hunter unit in the Colony.
10. I suggest therefore that the first step is the issue of the attached draft, if approved, and that this should be followed by the preparation of a submission to the Minister which would need to reach him between 10 and 20 October.
(A. W. Gaminara)
30 September, 1969