SECRET UK EYES A
ANNEX B to 212/75(Final). (Concluded)
disturbances occurring throughout the Colony with little or no warning. Such circumstances are currently considered. unlikely. The position will need to be reviewed prior to the withdrawal of the Gurkha battalion from Brunei, and the threat will have to be kept under regular review.
4.
The working party also identified 3 RN patrol craft and an artillery battery as desirable elements of the garrison. While we recognise the military advantages of both these elements, we endorse the Working Party's assessment that they are desirable rather than essential, and consider that neither the battery nor the patrol craft can be justified when there are heavy financial constraints on the UK Defence Budget. Should the Hong Kong Government press for either element to be included, then our position would be that they could be provided if the Hong Kong Government bore the full cost.
5. We propose therefore that the forthcoming negotiations with the Hong Kong Government should be conducted on the basis of a garrison consisting of:
1 Frigate
1 United Kingdom infantry battalion
3 Gurkha infantry battalions
1 Gurkha Engineer field squadron with its training wing 8 Wessex helicopters
This force, with appropriate support, would cost about £33.5M per annum.
6. We recommend that you agree use of this force level in the preparation of interdepartmental briefs, to be endorsed by the DOPC, for use in the forthcoming negotiations with the Hong Kong Government.
B
2
SECRET UK EYES A