SECRETUR EYES A SEOP
to necessitate overall measures so far-ranging as to seriously disturb our
}
major Allies.
with
You will therefore understand how rigorous an eye we had to view
our military commitments outside the NATO alliance.
5. We recognised that while we could not continue our substantial post imperial
military presences East of Suez, we must continue to maintain forces in the
dependent territories including Hong Kong-which is by far the largest British
military commitment outside NATO. But in considering our future military
commitments we were conscious that all of it was at the direct expense of what
could be allocated to NATO.
6.
Having described the background I now turn to an explanation of HMG's approach
to the future military presence in Hong Kong. I wish to assure you that the
political basis of our thinking is HMG's long-standing practical commitment to the integrity
of the colony and the security and well being of its inhabitants.
Lessening of
There is no
this: commitment and HMG is conscious that a garrison adegrate
in military terms is an important manifestation of it. But the UK cannot afford
to devote mure military resources to Hong Kong than is absolutely necessary and
we have therefore undertaken careful and prolonged study of the size and composition
of the minimum garrison that would be my adequate. The garrison, at the
time we came into office comprised 5 infantry battalions, an artillery regiment,
an armoured reconnaissance squadron, engineers, a frigate and patrol craft, and
a helicopter squadron. At September 74 prices it cost about £50M
HK dollars. Careful study showed that some reduction from this level of forces
would be militarily justifiable, and as a first step a number of withdrawals were
agree and announced in March. The important elements were the removal of the
artillery regiment, less a battery, the armoured reconnaissance squadron, and
a reduction in the Naval presence. The remaining garrison cost about £40M at
•MK dolar]
rices/
Sept 74 prices. In further discussions with the Governor and his security advisers
the whole problem of the security threat and the forces, both civil and military
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UK