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DRAFT PAPER FOR DOPC
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DEFENCE REVIEW: HONG KONG
At their meeting on 9 September (CPD(74) 14th Meeting,
Item 3) the Committee took two decisions: that the future level
of our forces in Hong Kong should be reduced, on the basis that
an assured rapid reinforcement capability would not be maintained,
and that the Governor should be informed of the Government's
firm view that the Hong Kong Government should contribute not
less than three-quarters of the cost of the garrison.
2.
Discussions with the Governor have now taken place. This
paper seeks further guidance from the Committee on the form and
timing of the formal negotiations that must now be opened with
the Hong Kong Government.
Force levels and costs
3. The present garrison of Hong Kong consists of 1 frigate,
5 patrol craft, 6 teeth arm units (33 British) and 8 helicopters
and costs about £50M a year (Estimates 1975/76 prices). Follow-
ing the Committee's meeting on 9 september, the reduced garrison
has been defined in the further uiscussion with Hong Kong and
has been accepted by the Governor, in the light of military advice,
as a minimum requirement. It consists of 1 frigate, 3 patrol
craft, 53 teeth arm units (13 British), 8 helicopters and reduced
support. There is no assured rapid reinforcement capability.
costs about £40M a year (Estimates 1975/76 prices). Details are
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shown at Annex.
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Hong Kong's financial contribution: the Governor's attitude.
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The Governor's firm advice is that he could not recommend to
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the Executive and Legislative Councils, (or hope to carry through them, any proposal to contribute more than £17M a year (Estimates
1975/76 prices). Such a contribution would in cash terms be
about double the annual average contribution under the present
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