SECRET
Swingfire Ferrets
4. The Army Department would have been able to supply the
2 Swingfire Ferrets for the war maintenance reserve if really
pressed to do so, but their military value would have been
marginal.
Meeting Be tween the Governor of Hong Kong and CDS
5. The meeting took place on 8 September and the Governor agreed
without demur:
6.
a.
The Centurion stockpile would not be retained after
the date planned for its withdrawal in mid-1973.
b. It will not be replaced with either Chieftains or
Scorpions.
However
The question of retaining 2 Swingfire Ferrets after 1976 was
not raised by the Governor and so they were not offered.
when the reinforcement plan for Hong Kong is next reviewed,
consideration will be given as to whether or not it might be
preferable to reinforce with ground attack aircraft rather than
additional artillery. In this way, the long range anti-armour
striking power of the Garrison would be improved in an operational
emergency.
SECRET