SECRET
ACDS (POL ACDB (OPS) ACHS(P) DNO
DASD
ACAN (POL)
AUS (NS
AUS(AS)
AUS(D Staff)
UK EYES A
Reference.....
7.35(GJ) 49/75
3
Copies to MA/VCCS
DUS (P)
SACCOS
Head of DS6
DEFENCE REVIEW: HONG KONG
Reference: AUS(GS) 30/75 of 24 January
་
DUS(P) has approved the proposal in paragraph 5 of the Reference that a paper should be prepared in consultation with the Treasury and FCO for clearance by the Chiefs of Staff and submission to the DOPC. This would seek a decision whether studies should formally be carried out of a garrison in Hong Kong costing about £35M and also invite views on possible guidelines for negotiation with the Hong Kong Government on their future defence contribution.
2. The draft of the proposed paper is now attached. A you will see, it does no more than expose the issues, seek approval for the conduct of the proposed study and invite preliminary views on the guidelines. The substantive paper for Ministers will not go forward until April when the study, if approved, will bo completed.
3.
We are being asked to work to a timetable which will permit circulation of the paper to the LOPC on Monday 10 February. I am advised by SECCOU that to give reasonable time for Chiefs clearance he must have the paper for this purpose carly on Monday morning 3 February. This timetable makes impossible, I fear, the preliminary consultation which I would have liked to offer. This minule, therefore, can do no more than invite you to concur in the enclosed draft going forward for consideration by the COS and to invite any comments you would prefer to make now rather than in the process of clearance by the COS.
4.
May I assume, unless I hear to the contrary by close of play tomorrow, Friday 31 January, that you are content that the paper should go forward?
SECRET
undangan
J.D. BAYARS
AUS(US)
30 January 157.
MY EYES A