SECRET UR
LIES
HONG KONG DEFENCE COSTS NEGOTIATIONS OCTOBER 1975
FORCE LEVELS
BRIEF C
1.
At the beginning of 1967 the liong Kong garrison consisted of 63 teeth arm units, (1 Arnd Recce Sqn, 1 Arty Regt, 2 Inf Bns, 3 Gurkha Bns, 1 Gurkha Sqn RF) as well as 3 minesweepers, and a guardship was provided from fleet resources.
Because
of the riots in June of that year, the garrison was reinforced by one infantry battalion from Malaysia/Singapore (subsequently withdrawm in June 1963), 6 Whirlwind helicopters (subsequently replaced by 8 Wessex in July 1972) and 2 minesweepers on temporary detachment.
2.
The 3 Hong Kong minesweepers were replaced by 2 minesweepers/ minchunters on detachment from Singapore in late 1967. Early in 1970 5 minchunters were transferred to Hong Kong and became permanently based there. During 1971 and 1972 they were replaced by craft converted to the patrol craft role (two were converted in the UK and three in Hong Kong). HMS CHICHESTER arrived in Hong Kong in April 1973 to become the permanent guardship and the Hong Kong Squadron as it now is was formed on 1st June 1973.
3.
In February 1975 the DOPC agreed that the Hong Kong garrison should be reduced to 53 teeth arm units, a frigate, 3 patrol craft and 8 Wessex helicopters, a net reduction of the equivalent of an infantry battalion and 2 patrol craft. It was estimated that the annual cost of this garrison would be about £40M at Sept 74/Estimates 75/6 prices. The Committee directed that a study should be made of the security and political implications of a garrison costing £35M per annum or less on the basis that such a garrison might form an element of a compromise agreement on the size of the Hong Kong Government's contribution to annual costs. A report was subsequently produced in Hong Kong by a working party composed of representatives of the Hong Kong Government, Headquarters British Forces Hong Kong, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence.
SECRETLY EYES A
UK A