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DP 31/70(C)(Flimsy Draft (Continued)
8. The Governor of Hong Kong has since said (7) that he would
have preferred one more British and one less Gurkha unit.
this has not been considered further.
However
Presently Planned Reinforcement Situation post 1971
9. The current plans (6) for reinforcing the garrison from the
UK post 1971 would remain the same as those referred to in
paragraph
6.
In an emergency the strength could be raised from
7 to 10 major units.
The new situation post 1971
10. The permanent stationing of a British battalion group in
Singapore and a Gurkha battalion in Brunei will create a new
situation in SE Asia post 1971. However the throat to Hong Kong:
which was last assessed (8) in January 1968 has not changed
significantly.
The land force levels must therefore remain at
7 major units unless an immediate reinforcing unit could be
provided from the future UK land force presence in SE Asia, in which case a fall in strength to 6 major units, but not below,
Notes:
6.
7.
78
80
JTP(FE) 67 and RTP(W) 28
FCO HKK 10/1 dated 15 Dec 69 JIC (68) 15
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