P 260430Z AUG
FM CINCFE
RBDWC/MODUK
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INFO RBMVAD/HQBF HONG KONG
110760.
26/6
CRST
SECRET TLL/SEACOS 57 FOR CDS FROM CINCFE.UNCIA REFERENCE: A. SECSEA 46.
6.PRIORITY
B. SECSEA 50.
PARAPHRASE NJ. KEQUIREDI
"O) UNCLASSIFED »
SUBJECT MAINTENANCE OF FORCE LEVELS IN HONG KONG.
1. IN REF B WE WERE ASKED TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO MAINTAIN FORCE
LEVEL IN HONG KONG AT SIX AND TWO THIRDS MAJOR UNITS UNTIL 10
GR ARRIVE IN COLONY IN MID DEC.
~FFERENC
3187.
2. WITH TEMPORARY REMOVAL OF 42 CDO THIS CAN ONLY BE DONE EITHER
BY EXTENDING STAY OF 40 CDO FROM MID OCT MC BY REPLACING THEM WITH
1/2 GR. I AM RELUCTANT TO EXTEND UNACCOMPANIED DEPLOYMENT OF 40
CDO AND TO SEND 1/2 GR WOULD MEAN CANCELLATION OF EX WEST COUNTY.
ARMY COMMANDER, WHO WAS IN CANBERRA RECENTLY, FOUND AUSTRALIANS
TAKING A GREAT INTEREST IN THIS EX AND HAPPY TO HAVE GURKHAS TRAIN-
ING IN AUSTRALIA. HE CONSIDERS, AND I AGREE, THAT IT WOULD BE UN-
FORTUNATE TO CANCEL IT.
3. I HAVE THEREFORE ASKED CBF AND GOVERNOR IF THEY COULD ACCEPT A GAP FROM MID OCTOBER WHEN 40 CDO LEAVE TO MID DEC WHEN 10 GR ARRIVE. THEY HAVE BOTH AGREED PROVIDED THAT WE EARMARK A BATTALION AT SEVEN DAYS NOTICE AND SUBJECT, OF COURSE, TO YOUR APPROVAL.
I PROPOSE TO PUT 10 GR AT SEVEN DAYS NOTICE WHILE HONG KONG ARE
UNDER STRENGTH.
4. IN VIEW OF THE PENALTIES INVOLVED IN MAINTAINING FORCE LEVEL IN HONG KONG FROM MID OCT TO MID DEC AND OF HONG KONG AGREEMENT TO A GAP I HOPE YOU WILL AGREE TO FORCE LEVEL IN COLONY REDUCING
TEMPORARILY
BT
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