CY HER CAT A
MEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 719
SECRET 1507352
SECRET
i
O ) F.C.0..t
15 OCTOBER 1978
42
TOP LOPT
ADDRESSED TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE, LONDON TELEGRAM
NUMBER 719 OF 15 OCTOBER 1979.
GARRISON.
1 UNDERSTOOD FROM MR ROYLE THAT RECOMMENDATIONS BY CBF AND
MYSELF WHICH HAVE BEEN THE SUBJECT OF SIGNALS RECENTLY RECEIVED BETWEEN MOD AND CBF, WERE LIKELY TO BE AGREED BY MINISTERS,
THOUGH AT TIME OF VISIT HE WAS NOT AWARE IF FINAL CABINET
CONSIDERATION HAD. YET TAKEN PLACE. IF PROPOSALS ARE APPROVED THERE WILL BE SOME LOCAL CONSEQUENCES WHICH WILL REQUIRE DELICATE HANDLING AND I WOULD LIKE ADVANCE NOTICE OF ANY PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT SU THAT I CAN CONSIDER HOW BEST TO FOLLOW UP MERE-FOUR DAYS WOULD BE SUFFICIENT. MR ROYLE SAID I COULD TELL YOU HE ENDORSED
THIS REQUEST.
2. IT WOULD INDEED BE VERY HELPFUL HERE IF I COULD GO SO FAR AS TO SAY ON DEPATURE ON SATURDAY (IF THE NEED ARIGES) THAT CONSEQUENT ON HMG'S ANNOUNCEMENT OF INTENTION TO MAINTAIN
MILITARY PRESENCE IN SOUTH-EAST ASIA WE WERE CONSIDERING LOCALLYV
WHAT ADJUSTMENTS MIGHT BE JUSTIFIED TO THE INCREASES IN THE
GARRISON WHICH IT HAS ALREADY ANNOUNCED WERE CONTEMPLATED.
MAY.I GO SO FAR?
*
3. MAIN LOCAL CONSEQUENCE WITH WHICH I AM IMMEDIATELY CONCERNED
WILL BE THE HANDLING OF VILLAGERS WITH WHOM WE HAVE BEEN CONDUCTING
DIFFICULT NEGOTIATIONS OVER LAND FOR NEW BARRACKS WHICH, IF
RECOMMENDATIONS ARE ACCEPTED, WILL NO LONGER BE REQUIRED.
SIR I TRENCH
FILES
H.K.D.
DEFENCE DEPT
S.W.P.D.
F.E.D.
MR VILFORD
Cus
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