SECRET
SECRET
UK EYES A
UK EYES A
A reduced garrison comprising 5 teeth arm units (including 4 Gurkha
units and 1 UK 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 dis-
charging the internal security task in Hong Kong and had been endorsed
by the 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 to the reduced garrison and the capital
cost of new naval patrol craft) is estimated at some £41M (September 1974
prices).
(b) The UK's contribution to the cost of the garrison
Ministers had decided in September 1974
(2)
that "the future level of
2
our forces in Hong Kong should be reduced but on the basis that a
reinforcement capability should not be maintained,
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 and his advice should be sought on whether it would be best to
ask initially for more with a view to compromising on 75% or whether it
would be better to put a proposal to the Executive Council which we
would not be ready to depart from". This decision implied a Hong Kong
contribution of about £30M towards the cost of the reduced garrison
leaving the balance of £10M to be found by the UK. Ministers also
(3) directed that examinations by officials should include the pos-
sibility that the Hong Kong contribution might not exceed 50%.
(c) Hong Kong's contribution to the cost of the garrison
The annual contribution made by Hong Kong during the current 1971-1976
COS Part II 29/74 Item 114
OPD(74)14th Mtg OPD(74)15th Mtg
3
SECRET
UK EYES
SECRET
CK EYES A