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DP 31/70(C)(Flimsy Draft) (Continued)
force level of 73 major units for the Hong Kong garrison should
be reduced by one battalion, to 6 major units, so long as the
Commander-in-Chief Far East retained the ability to reinforce the
garrison with one major unit from within the theatre at very
short notice.
The current garrison is therefore 63 major units.
This includes a Singapore based Royal Marine Commando deployed in the Colony temporarily on unaccompanied service to maintain the required minimum force level during the presently planned Gurkha rundown. The Commando will be replaced in December 1970 by one
The Hong Kong
of the Gurkha battalions in Singapore/Malaysia. garrison will then consist of 3 British major units and 3 Gurkha
major units.
5. It has been accepted policy for some time that two of the
battalions in Hong Kong should be British in order to make the
British presence felt and stiffen the police.
Current Reinforcement Plans
this
6. There is a plan (5) to reinforce Hong Kong by onc battalion from Singapore/Malaysia within 72 hours of first warning;
being the estimated time it would take for a situation to get
Note: 5.
JTP(FE) 75
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