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that the Colony should not be milked to pay for its defence
when so much needs to be done to provide better living stan-
dards and improved social services.
4. The new agreement will need to take account of the
increase in size of the post-1971 garrison, made necessary
because after that date it will no longer be possible for the
garrison to be supported or reinforced from Singapore. The
increases in strength, as approved by DOPC in May 1968, are
set out below:
Present Garrison
Post-1971 Garrison
NAVY
3 Coastal Minesweepers
5 Coastal Minesweepers 2 Frigates
ARMY
6 Major Army Units
73 Major Army Units
RAF
6 Whirlwind Helicopters (to be increased to 10
in April 1970).
5. In approving these force
10 Whirlwind Helicopters
levels Ministers decided to
defer consideration of where the costs should be borne pending
a full assessment of the cost of our commitment in Hong Kong.
It was nevertheless clear that the Ministry of Defence were
expecting their votes to be reimbursed to the extent of not
less than the full budgetary cost of forces attributed to the
internal security role of the garrison.
6. When the Defence Secretary visited Hong Kong in June,
1969, the Governor suggested to him that as a first step in
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