TIMMEDIATE
CYPHER/ CAT A
FROM F C O 41855Z
SECRET
SECRET
TOP
RECEIVIN REGISTRY No. 51
TO MARRYS
9+
DESKBY 50100
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TELEGRAM NUMBER 160 OF 4 MARCH,
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR.
DEFENCE REVIEW.
LAGT
100
197
PA
B1)
7/3
1. THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE HAVE TOLD US THAT, WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO THE WORKING PARTY'S STUDY, MILITARY PLANNING HAS ALREADY
HAD TO BE SET IN HAND ON A CONFIDENTIAL BASIS IN ORDER TO ENSURE
THAT THE CURRENTLY PLANNED GARRISON REDUCTION TO FIVE AND TWO
THIRDS MAJOR UNITS, AND A REDUCTION OF CERTAIN SUPPORT ELEMENTS,
CAN BE ACHIEVED WITHIN THE DESIRED TIME SCALE.
2.
THIS PLANNING WILL PROBABLY REQUIRE CERTAIN OVERT STEPS
PRIMARILY NOTIFICATION TO THE UNITS AFFECTED, BEFORE CONCLUSION OF
NEGOTIATIONS ON THE NEW DEFENCE AGREEMENT. MOD IS SEPARATELY
ASKING CBF HONG KONG'S STAFF TO IDENTIFY WHAT THESE STEPS MIGHT
BE. WE HAVE BRIEFED THE MOD MEMBERS OF THE WORKING PARTY, IN
THE MARGINS OF THE DISCUSSIONS NEXT WEEK, TO WARN YOUR OFFICIALS
IN CONFIDENCE, THAT SUCH STEPS MAY BE NECESSARY AND THAT THEY WILL
BE NOTIFIED OF THEM BEFOREHAND.
3.
SUBJECT TO YOUR VIEWS, WE CONSIDER IT WOULD ADVISABLE, SHORTLY AFTER THE PUBLICATION OF THE DEFENC WHITE PAPER ON
19 MARCH, FOR SOME STATEMENT TO BE MADE IN HONG KONG TO EXPLAIN THE FIRST MEASURES BEING TAKEN TO REDUCE THE GARRISON.
THIS MIGHT BE ON THE FOLLOWING LINES: QUOTE AS PART OF THE REDUCTION OF FORCES IN HONG KONG DECIDED BY HMG CERTAIN UNITS AND INDIVIDUALS
ARE TO BE WITHDRAWN BY 1 APRIL 1976. THOSE CONCERNED ARE..
AT THE SAME TIME, A NUMBER OF REORGANISATIONAL MEASURES ARE TO
BE CARRIED CUT WHICH WILL RESULT IN THE FOLLOWING
REDUCTIONS AND DISBANDMENTS........ DISCUSSIONS ARE PROCEEDING
WITH THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT ABOUT THE FUTURE FORCE LEVEL TO BE
SECRET
/MAINTAINED.