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CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIALTER NO HK 10

THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S TOUR OF THE FAR EAST

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1973

FORCE LEVELS

1. Details of the strength and deployment of the Hong Kong Land

*

Forces Garrison are at Annexes A and B.

2.

The respective roles of the two field force formations are

as follows:

a.

48 Gurkha Infantry Brigade. Security of the frontier,

internal security in the New Territories and provision of

a reserve force for internal security elsewhere in the

Colony until the first reinforcements arrive from the UK

(these would include the UK Gurkha Battalion).

b. 51 Infantry Brigade. To assist in the restoration and

maintenance of law and order in Kowloon, Hong Kong Island

and the outlying islands. In peace-time it shares border

security duties with 48 Brigade, while in war it would have

a role in the defensive battle, keeping open essential

routes between forward areas, the Island and Kai Tak

airport. In addition, 51 Brigade is required to:

(1) Develop community relations with the local people.

(2) Support the civil authorities in the event of

natural disasters.

(3) Ensure the security of key roints, military

installations and dependants.

(4) Assist in the reception of reinforcements into

the Colony and of families evacuated from the New

Territories.

3. Brunei Garrison. HQ Brunei Garrison and the Brunei Gurkha

battalion, total strength 105 British and 743 Gurkha all ranks,

are under command of Land Forces Hong Kong for training and

administration. In an operational emergency, they would be under

CONFIDENTIALATIN * NOT ATTACHED

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