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8. THE ABOVE PROPOSALS DO NOT MEET THE VIEW THAT HONG KONG SHOULD PAY THE WHOLE COST. AS EXPLAINED ABOVE BUDGETARY POSSIBILITIES DO NOT ALLOW THIS FOR THE FORCE LEVEL REQUIRED. BUT THERE IS A FURTHER POLITICAL POINT. THE VALUE OF THE GARRISON IN MAINTAINING CONFIDENCE LIES NOT ONLY IN ITS 1.S. AND FRONTIER CAPABILITY, BUT ALSO IN THE DEMONSTRATION WHICH IT OFFERS TO THE POPULATION OF THE U.K.'S SOVEREIGNTY AND COMMITMENT. IT IS THE MORE CONVINCING BECAUSE THE GARRISON NOT ONLY HAS UK PERSONNEL, BUT TO A SUBSTANTIAL EXTENT IS PAID FOR BY THE UK. BURDEN SHARING TO EASE THE UK'S POSITION WILL BE UNDERSTOOD THOUGH THERE WILL PROBABLY BE A ROW ABOUT THE AMOUNT. BUT SHOULD IT APPEAR THAT IN FUTURE THE UK WAS NOT PREPARED TO PAY AT ALL FOR THE DEFENCE OF HONG KONG, PEOPLE (INCLUDING THE CPG) WOULD, DEDUCE THAT THE
UK NO LONGER HAD ANY INTEREST IN IT, AND THAT THE COMMITMENT TO HONG KONG REAFFIRMED IN THE HOUSE ON 27 MARCH HAD BEEN ABANDONED. I WOULD SEE REAL DANGER IN RISKING SUCH AN IMPRESSION. IT IS NO EXAGGERATION TO SAY THAT IT MIGHT MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ABILITY OF THE POLICE AND GARRISON TO DETER A CHALLENGE TO LAW
I AND ORDER, AND HAVING TO INTERVENE TO RESTORE IT. THEREFORE TRUST NOT ONLY THAT THIS VIEW WILL NOT BE PRESSED, BUT THAT IT WILL NOT BE VOICED IN PUBLIC.
9. IF MOD WISH THE DETAILED IMPLICATIONS OF THE ECONOMIES SET OUT IN PARA 1 I SUGGEST THAT THEY CORRESPOND DIRECT WITH GENERAL BRAMALL.
10. I SHOULD PERHAPS MAKE THREE POINTS OF DETAIL FOR THE RECORD:,
THIS
A) GUARDSHIP: THIS IS OF CONSIDERABLE VALUE BECAUSE OF THE CONSTANT PRESENCE IN COLONY WATERS OF CHINESE GUNBOATS WHICH ARE SUPERIOR' IN FORCE AND SPEED TO OUR PATROL GRAFT AND A FORTIORI REPEAT A FORTIORI TO OUR POLICE LAUNCHES AND WHICH HAVE OFTEN TRAINED THEIR GUNS ON THEM THIS IS A SITUATION IN WHICH THE PRESENCE OF THE GUARD-SHIP CAN AND HAS GREATLY HELPED THE MORALE. OF THE MARINE POLICE. IF THEREFORE NAVAL STRENGTH MUST BE REDUCED, I WOULD' PREFER TO CUT OUT TWO PATROL CRAFT AND RETAIN THE GUARD-SHIP.
B) RAF :
1 | ATTACH CONSIDERABLE IMPORTANCE TO MAINTAINING A HELICOPTER LIFT CAPACITY. THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE TERRAIN
AND THE VULNERABILITY OF THE ROAD SYSTEM, BOTH IN THE COUNTRYSIDE AND IN THE CITY..
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