--
to be par fenum Beard.
SECRET
UK EYES A
The couting of the reduced carpijon.
་་
4. A summary of the estimated costs of the reduced "garrison
had been made available to the Hong Kong Government on
December 1974. A copy is at Annex D. During the visit detailed
figures supporting the summary were provided to Hong Kong;
supplied
and much aduitional information was provided in response to
their questions. This material is shown at Annexs E and F.
Arrangements were made for any further factual information
requested by Hong Kong to be supplied by CBF HK, consulting
MOD as necessary.
5.
Throughout the aiscussions the liong Kong representatives
made clear their view that, if in future Hong Kong's financial
contribution to the cost of the garrison was to be expressed
as a proportion of the whole, particularly if a proportion
exceeding 50% were proposed, the consent of he unofficial
members of the Executive and Legislative Councils (UMELCO) could
not be expected without justification of the cost and size of
the proposed garrison in fullest detail.
The issues.
6.
Three main issues underlay the discussions:-
(a) The size and cost of the garrison
The present ganison of
1 Hong Kong consists of
1 63 Teeth wim unit's (including
2 British infantry battalions
1 British Arlieeery regiment and I British armoured
squadron), I frigales, 5 patrol croft and I squadron of RAF Wessex Relicopters. 91- cost's about 2 sema
year (Entretien 197912g prices)
September 1974
1)
SECRET
arm
A reduced garrison comprising 53 Army teeth/units
Britisk
British
(including 1 infantry battalion and 1 UK artillery
battery), 1 frigate and 3 patrol craft, and 1
squadron of RAF Wessex helicopters, and with no
assured rapid reinforcement, had been proposed by
CBF, with the concurrence of the Governor, as the
minimum force capable of uischarging the internal
security task in Hong Kong and had been endorsed by th
Chiefs of Staff(1). The average annual cost of this
force (excluding extra costs, other than extra works
costs, arising during; the transition from the present
A