(27260) Dd.897459 400m 12 72 G.W.B.Ltd. Gp.863
26940) Dd.s97300 409m 9/72
G.W.B.Lid.
Gp.863
NIOUYW SIHL NI NELLNM EQ OL ONIHLON
Registry
No.
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
Top Secret,
Secret.
DRIF
To:-
Type 1 +
FROM
Telephone No. Ext.
Confidential,
Restricted,
Unclassified.
PRIVACY MARKING
.In Confidence
Department
DEFENCE STUDIES WORKING PARTY REPORT
ANNEX J: GEOGRAPHICAL COMMITMENTS
Amendment to paragraphs 4 and 7
...
14. Hong Kong
(i)
Subject to professional advice on internal security requirements we would aim to reduce cost of our forces to the UK by about a half. This might be achieved through such force reductions as might be agreed by this professional advice; through a much lower capability to reinforce in a hurry, relying on the Westabout route and civilian aircraft; and by persuading Hong Kong to contribute a greater proportion, as from 1976, to the cost of the garrison.
1177
Hong Kong
!!
...
(i) Total withdrawal of the garrison from Hong Kong is not in practice an option unless we abandon Hong Kong itself. Hong Kong could not be governed without a garrison: confidence in the Colony's future would not survive. Even a hint that such an option was being considered in London would seriously damage confidence. The elimination of the garrison would only be conceivable in a situation where we intended to withdraw politically in the immediate future. The Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary has made it clear that withdrawal is not
in contemplation. Option A2 is likewise only a practical proposition to the extent that it maintains stability and confidence in the Colony. Some
.+
i
1