D/MIN/WR/8/7
MINISTER OF STATE FOR DEFENCE
138
NCH!
1 52
6 for M MacLeo
ماما
NKK 10/1
LAPR 1975 PA
15/4
Note for the record
The Governor and Commander-in-Chief, Hong Kong, Sir
Murray Maclehose, called on the Minister of State at 3.00 p.m. on Wednesday 9 April. DUS(P) was also present.
2. The Governor asked what time-table was envisaged for
taking final decisions on the future Hong Kong force level and on the financial contribution by Hong Kong. Minister of State said that the working party report was now being considered in MOD and would go to the Chiefs of Staff in late April/early May and then be put to OPD, not necessarily in Committee, in May. Although we had no fixed time-table thereafter Minister of State said that he thought it would be in everybody's interest if final decisions were reached by the end of July at the latest. The Defence Budget for 1976/77 was under renewed pressure from the Chancellor and it seemed probable that further savings would be needed in that and the immediately following years. It would therefore be very difficult for MOD to find extra money towards the cost of the Hong Kong Garrison over and above the original Defence Review assumption.
3. Turning to force levels the Governor said that although
he had a strong preference for a level of about 5 major units he recognised that it would be very difficult to agree a
financial settlement to cover such a Garrison and that it might
therefore be necessary to reduce further. He regarded 4 major
units as a minimum level if the Garrison were to retain
credibility. It would be helpful to say that we maintained a reinforcement capability recognising that any reinforcements would inevitably take longer to reach Hong Kong once the RAF
Transport Force reduced to its post-Defence Review level. Continuing the Governor said that the Chinese Government had
CONFIDENTIAL
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