Secretary of State
SECRET UK EYES A
DRAFT
ANNEX B to 212/75(Final)
1.
HONG KONG
Negotiations with the Government of Hong Kong on a Defence Agreement to cover the size of the garrison and
The the apportionment of costs are about to begin. Joint Hong Kong Government/MOD Working Party which was directed by DOPC to study the possible composition, and the security and political implications of a garrison costing £35M or less has now reported.
2.
After considering the threat and the role of the British Forces in Hong Kong the report identifies certain essential elements of the garrison. These are a United Kingdom battalion, as part of an infantry force able to cover the border and in the IS role provide adequate support for the police, some combat engineer capability, 8 Wessex helicopters and a Naval presence. We endorse these essential elements and consider that the Naval presence should be provided by a frigate, and the engineer capability by a Gurkha engineer field squadron with its training wing.
3. When we expressed our view that, in the absence of a rapid reinforcement capability, the stationed infantry force should consist of 5 battalions, it was assumed that a slower reinforcement capability would be available under ad hoc arrangements from forces in the United Kingdom or elsewhere. However, as it has been decided, ad referendum to Ministers, to plan for the retention of a Gurkha battalion in Brunei at least until mid-1978, a local reinforcement capability is now likely to be available. In the light of the current threat we consider that, while a Gurkha battalion is available in Brunei, a stationed infantry force in Hong Kong of 4 battalions would be acceptable. This would involve increased risks in the event of simultaneous
B - 1
SECRET UK EYES A