1
SECRET
0/058/39/22/3733.
Fior
13.1075.
CLOSURE OF 117 SIGNALS NIT OF THE RAF, TAI MO SHAN
Brief for Minister of State
It is possible that the Hong Kong Government may mention
this subject to you while you are in Hong Kong.
Background
2. The purpose of this radar unit was primarily to provide intelligence gathering facilities on behalf of both the UK and the
USA. Very much as a sideline, the radars provided surveillance
facilities for the civil airport at Kai Tak.
3. As a result of the Defence Review, it was decided to uloge
this unit completely and to withdraw all Service personnel.
This would have left the civil aviation authorities in Hong Kong
without long range radar cover for Kai Tak until a new civil radar is delivered in some 2 to 24 years time. MOD was
therefore pressed by the Hong Kong Government to keep the Tai Mo
Shan radar in operation during this period.
4.
Because the continued operation or this radar serves no
direct UK or US purpose, we resisted this. The solution ultimately adoptei was that the RAF should continue to operate the radar until 1 April 1976, the cost of his operation being reimbursed
by the Hong Kong Govermont. The intention behind this arrangement
was that in the meantime the Hong Kong Government would arrange
a contract direct with Cable and Wireless Ltd to operate the radar
after April 76. It would have taken the firm six months to
recruit and train personnal to maintain the equitment.
ሮ The continued operation of the Tai Mo Shan radar is dependent upon the US being prepared to provide spare parts and meintenance since the radar is of US origin and obsolescent.
In addition to its value for civil aviation purposes, the radar
does provide assistance to the USAF 13th Air Force based in
Manilla for reconnaissane, flights,
This assistance 2 not in
/itself