3. The above examination included the
compilation of estimated comparative costs for
the two schemes, but those estimates related
only to local costs and the examination was
intended to enable the Ministry of Defence to
complete the exercise by working out in full the
total estimated costs of operating the proposed
fighter unit. This the MOD have now done and I
(the relevant extracts from the sport
enclose a copy of their report.
You will see that the total recurrent
costs of scheme (B) have been estimated at
£335,000 per annum. This figure represents the
Operating
total annual bunning costs, including all local
costs, of a detachment of five Hunters with
three in reserve.
Although there is no direct
ure to 12m leiter
reference in the enclosed paper to the question
of how long the Hunter unit would be retained in
Hong Kong, the Chiefs of Staff have previously
stated that from the point of view of purely
military and technical considerations, the unit/
might be sustained until about 1975, by which
time the situation would have to be reviewed.
1.[
5 When the Ministry of Defence considered
this matter in May, 1968, they stated that if a
Hunter force was stationed in Hong Kong, it
would also be necessary to provide part of an
RAF Regiment Squadron to protect the
associated ground installations.
However,
Headquarters, Far East Air Force, have since
reviewed this requirement and now take the view
that it will not in fact be necessary to
station RAF Regiment personnel in the Colony
solely because of the presence of the Hunters
there. This has naturally helped to keep costs
(8/12) this file
aras 7-19
ран
inclusive
omitting panages in [ ].
(Paragraph 6.
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the
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preliminary feasibility of (143/5/;
study 1" Where technical
stated that
considerations are concerned, the
Conce
Hunks aowage mainplane bigges
fatigue
me life would enable the aircraft to continue in
service centil 1974/15/
9
this file
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down.