CSECRET
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any case change the manpower and financial limitations which
prevent us from retaining an armoured stockpile in Hong Kong.
b. The Hong Kong Defence Contribution. The Hong Kong
Government contributes £8M per year towards the cost of
keeping defence forces for meeting an Internal Security
threat. The tanks are of course stockpiled to meet an
external threat and so it cannot be said that their removal
would affect the Hong Kong contribution. However, the
re-equipped armoured reconnaissance squadron will be
provided with an enhanced anti-armour capability, available
the whole year round, and the bill for this is being met from
our defence votes at no cost to the Hong Kong Government.
In any event, £5.6M per year of the Defence Contribution is
swallowed up on agreed capital works projects and works
maintenance costs which are of long-term benefit to Hong
Kong, while the remaining £3.4M per year goes towards paying
the running costs of the Garrison. The Memorandum of
Understanding makes it clear that the contribution is only
subject to review if there is an increase in works costs,
an increase or decrease in the Garrison by more than one
major unit, or a serious adverse change in the Hong Kong
economy.
C.
Infantry/Tank Cooperation Training. The armoured
stockpile has been re-activated regularly to give the
Garrison infantry troops the chance to practise training
with tanks. This will only be possible in a limited and
modified form with the Scorpions of the resident squadron,
but they will be available the whole year round and can
include live firing in their training. There are now no
suitable ranges which would allow Chieftains to practice
live firing in Hong Kong.