(CBFHK's signal of 28 August,
Flag B)
Mr. Wilford
SECRET
Mr March 1919 Mr Bailey
(For garves on file.)
AUG
17.9.70.
33
In Gangha.
DP 31/70(Final): Reinforcement of the
Hong Kong Garrison
En
199
The attached paper is to be discussed at the meeting of the
Chiefs of Staff this afternoon.
Background
2.
The first draft of this paper assumed that the 1968 requirement to reinforce the present Hong Kong garrison (63 major units) at 72 hours notice was still valid. It therefore concluded that the Hong Kong Garrison should either be increased to 73 major units at the end of 1971 (as agreed by the Overseas and Defence Policy Committee in March 1968) or remain at a level of 63 major
units with a reinforcement unit at 72 hours notice available within
the Far East Theatre. This latter proposal would have meant
double-earmarking both the British infantry battalion in Singapore
and the Gurkha battalion in Brunei to the Hong Kong commitment.
3.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office suggested to the
Ministry of Defence that the requirement to reinforce the existing
Garrison within 72 hours might be looked at again. The Ministry
of Defence thereupon sought the views of the Commander British Forces Hong Kong (CBFHK) who consulted the Governor.
Both the
Governor and CBFHK have agreed, subject to various provisos, that a permanent garrison of 63 major units in Hong Kong after 1971 will be adequate and that notice for the first reinforcement battalion
can be extended to 7 days. The provisos made by the Governor and
CBFHK are listed with one exception in paragraph 2 of the attached
The exception is the proviso that a request by the Governor
and CBFHK to reduce the notice for reinforcement from 7 days to
paper.
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No.51
21 SEP 1970
HKKITIO
KRAMAROSA SALINATES..
SECRET
/72 hours