CONFIDENTIAL
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PRIORITY CYPHER/CAT A
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CONFIDENTIAL
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TO PRIORITY HONG KONG TELNO 022 OF 24 OCTOBER 1975.
FOLLOWING FOR SECRETARY FOR SECURITY FROM AUS (GS) MOD
YOUR TELNO 1046
DEFINITIVE COSTS. THE INFORMATION YOU REQUIRE HAS BEEN
DESPATCHED BY SIGNAL AND COURIER TO HQPF. THE COSTS ARE CALCULATED
ON THE BASIS THAT THE NAVAL ELEMENT MIGHT COMPRISE FIVE PATROL CRAFT
WITHOUT REPLACEMENT: BUT SINCE THE NAVAL OPTIONS ARE OPEN TO
DISCUSSION WE MAY PRESENT OUR CASE IN TERMS OF A FRIGATE WITH A UK
REFIT WHICH I ICREASES THE NAVAL COST TO DOLLARS HK 38M AND THE
TOTAL COST TO DOLLARS HY 466M ROUNDED TO DOLLARS HK 470M.
2. CAPITAL WORKS. PENDING THE OUTCOME OF NECCTIATIONS WHICH COULD
AFFECT THE SIZE AND DURATION OF PROGRAMMES FOR INCLUSION IN THE MOU, THE ADMITTEDLY WIDE ANNUAL EXPENDITURE BRACKET OF £2-4M REMAINS THE
BEST POSSIBLE ADVICE. IF THE AGREEMENT IS OF FIVE YEARS DURATION THE
NEW WORKS SPENDING IS ESTIMATED AT £11-15M OVER THE PERIOD.
IT SEEMS BEST TO LEAVE FINAL FIGURES FOR INSERTION IN THE MOU OPEN
UNTIL THE PROGRAMME IS AGREED. YOU WILL FIND ON EXAMINING THE
DEFINITIVE COSTS THAT THE EARLIER MAINTENANCE ESTIMATE HAS NOT
CHANGED.
3. REINFORCEMENT. WE ARE ANXIOUS TO AVOID AS FAR AS POSSIBLE ANY
PUBLIC REFERENCE TO THE OPTION OF REINFORCEMENT BY THE BRUNEI
BATTALION IN ORDER NOT TO COMPLICATE OUR ANNOUNCED DEFENCE REVIEW
CONSULTATIONS WITH THAT STATE. WE CAN DISCUSS THIS FURTHER IF
REQUIRED AFTER OUR ARRIVAL, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, WE SUGGEST THAT
ANY PRESS ENQUIRY BE ANSWERED ON THE LINES THAT REINFORCEMENT IS AN OPERATIONAL MATTER WHICH WE CANNOT DISCUSS IN DETAIL. (THIS IS OUR
USUAL LINE OF REPLY), BUT THAT THE GARRISON CAN AS BEFORE BE
REINFORCED IN AN EMERGENCY.
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