(c) The Ministry of Defence would aim to make
available to the Hong Kong Government and to
CBF Hong Kong as soon as possible after the end
of November 1974 a detailed estimate of the costs
of the reduced garrison for the five years from
1976/77 onwards on a year by year basis and at
September 1974 prices. This estimate would
still be subject to qualification and later
amendment, since
(i)
(ii)
the rundown plan at present being
prepared by MOD and CBF Hong Kong
would not be completed and approved
until early 1975;
in consequence a final costing of the
logistic support and of the works
programme, and of the other elements,
would not be possible in November:
but it was hoped that sufficient
progress in planning would have been
made to allow reasonably reliable
estimates to be made;
(iii) some elements of the costing, e.g.
of the provision of both UK and
Gurkha airlift, were still under study,
which might not be concluded until
after November.
(a) The figure of £31M made no allowance for the
capital cost of replacing the Hong Kong patrol
craft: appropriate allowance would be included
in the detailed costing at (c), which would show
separately significant equipment capital costs
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