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SECRET
NON-NATO AND MEDITERRANEAN COMMITMENTS
(Paragraphs refer to the Steering Committee Report, OPD (74) 23)
Hong Kong (paragraph 28) and Cyprus (paragraph 35)
It is not expected that there will be any further
discussion of this following Ministers discussion on 9 September.
MOD are preparing to consult Commanders British Forces Hong Kong
and Near East on a personal basis, as authorised. We are preparing for the further round of informal consultation with
the Governor of Hong Kong as required by Ministers. We shall
also at a later stage as appropriate be consulting the High
Commissioner in Nicosia.
Brunei (paragraph 29)
OPD (74) 23 recommends that it would be in our own
interest to end our Brunei commitment. The eventual withdrawal
of the Gurkha battalion is acceptable on political grounds but
we must first ensure that we are absolved from our present commit
ment to consult in relation to any external attack. It will
therefore be necessary to renegotiate the existing Agreement, under which HMG is also responsible for Brunei's external affairs. This cannot legally be accomplished in much less than 2 years
from the moment the Sultan is given notice. It would be unac- ceptably dangerous to forego power to influence events in Brunei before we can divest ourselves of responsibility.
Brunei is peripheral to the Defence Review since the battalion is paid for by the Sultan and no direct savings will result from its withdrawal. The Secretary of State may agree
to the withdrawal of the battalion in due course, but should oppose the setting of a date at this stage. (MOD planners are proposing withdrawal by 1 April 1976). He might offer to submit a paper to his colleagues in due course on our objectives and
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ANADNYT.