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Non-NATO and Mediterranean Commitments
26.
From the point of view of the defence of the United Kingdom there is no
need to retain any of our non-NATO commitments. The present annual level of
expenditure on such commitmenta outside the NATO area and in the Mediterranean (which the Critical Level excludes but where we at present carry out certain NATO tasks and some tasks not organic to NATO but of direct relevance to it)
is about 2150 million.
27.
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Nevertheless in considering reductions in these commitments we must take into account the relevant political considerations including our responsibilities for the internal security and external defence of dependent territories and our interest in preserving the stability of areas important to us; the desirability of preserving certain intelligence-gathering facilities and also the effect on our Alliances. Some of the intelligence facilities are of particular importance to the Americana with whom we enjoy a unique relationship of disproportionate benefit to us. In the following paragraphs we describe what we believe would be the implications of a decision by Ministers to retain what seem to us to be the most important of our Mediterranean and non-NATO commitments. The total cost would be of the order of £70-80 million a year.
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28. Hong Kong So long as Hong Kong itself remains a British colony we shall
need to retain a garrison there to act in support of internal security and to maintain the public confidence without which the Colony would become ungovernable.
The military advice, not yet accepted by the Governor, is that the garrison could
not be reduced substantially below its present level: the Army could however be reduced from 6 major units to 52, including Gurkhas; naval forces could be cut to 5 patrol craft and communications staff by the removal of the guard frigate; the Royal Air Force presence could consist of 8 helicopters plus intelligence, communications and support facilities; and there would be no forces maintained solely for reinforcement of the garrison, but a reinforcement capability would
be retained. The only way in which the cost to the United Kingdom can be significantly reduced is to persuade the Hong Kong Government (who currently contribute £2.4 million and meet all the works costs) to accept greater financial responsibility. The current financial arrangements expire in 1976. The Hong Kong Government should be asked to meet the whole cost of such forces
as they wish to see retained.
29. Brunei The Gurkha battalion stationed in Brunei is paid for by the Sultan.
It provides a potential reinforcement for Hong Kong and its departure would also deprive the Hong Kong garrison of a training outlet, including training for jungle warfare. But for local political reasons it would be in our interest to end this commitment. It could also be presentationally useful in the context
of the defence review. to show that we were bringing some of our non-NATO
commitments entirely to an end in the near future.
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