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hostilities in the area the Seventh Fleet would, if necessary,
intervene.
4$.
An overt attack by the Chinese is less likely than an
attempt to get the Colony by subversion. Our ability to
preserve law and order depends essentially on maintaining the
confidence of the Chinese population in the British intention
to stay. The majority are politically inarticulate. Their
wish is to trade and survive. They do not wish to be on the
losing side and once their confidence started to slip the
process would be accumulative and there would be an increasing
tendency to transfer allegiance to Peking.
Garrison
54. At the end of 1966 British military forces in the Colony
were 63 major Army units, four fighter aircraft and three
coastal minesweepers.
6 The Army units were to have been reduced to 5% major units
during 1967-68; but this decision was never publicly announced
never
implemented
and has been indefinitely postponed because of the disturbeduces
has
in 1967.
conditions in the Colony last year. The garrison was in fact
reinforced by one battalion from Singapore during the earlier
stages of the disturbances last year and its strength remained
at 7 major units until June, 1968, when one, battalion was with-
March
The naval vessels
drawn. The fighter aircraft were withdrawn in 1967 and air
cover has since been provided from Singapore.
have been (which were to have been withdrawn) are being retained.
Future Garrison
Her Majesty's Government's decision to withdraw their
Forces from Singapore and Malaysia by the end of 1971 will
mean that it will thereafter not be possible to reinforce
the Hong Kong Garrison from those sources in time of need.
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