DEPENDENT TERRITORIES
Finally among Non-NATO Commitments we have had to consider
our responsibilities towards those remaining dependent territories
where we station forces.
Hong Kong
By far the largest of those, with by far the largest forces,
is Hong Kong. We maintain nearly 10,000 troops there, including
4,500 Gurkhas, for two main reasons. One is to deter incursions
from China, though we recognise that we could not defeat aggression
if it occurred. The second and more important is to help the civil
authority in dealing with internal security.
Large investments by Britain and other countries in Hong
Kong are at stake, and we have concluded that we must maintain a
garrison and a small naval force there, though we shall seek
economies where we can to bring the cost down from its present level
of £38 m. At the same time we shall press the Hong Kong Government
to contribute more to the cost than the £81 m. which they provide
at present.
As a further economy we shall give up the capability to
reinforce the Hong Kong garrison rapidly.
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