*....
itself justification for keeping the radar open, as the USAF authorities have agreed, but it provides sufficient justification for the US authorities to continue to provide spare parts. These items have hitherto been supplied free-of-charge on a Service to
Service basis.·
6
It now transpires that under US legislation the USAF will
not be able to provide spare parts for the radar unless it
continues to be RAF manned. Nor would it be possible to obtain
spares from the original manufacturers since the equipment is
obsolescent and such spares as do exist are held in USAF stores.
The Air Force Department is now considering whether it can continue
to provide RAF personnel to man the radar for the next 2 to 24 years
until the civil radar at Kai Tak comes into service. If the RAF
can provide the manpower, then we shall expect the Hong Kong
Government to continue to bear the cost. They have indicated their
willingness to do this. We have been at pains throughout to insist
that this particular arrangement has nothing to do with, and is
quite separate from, the discussion about the Hong Kong defence
budget.
Line to take
7.
You should maintain the line that this has nothing to do
with the discussions about the Hong Kong defence budget. You
understand that the RAF is looking into the possibility of providing
personnel to continue operating the radar after 1 April 1976 but
that you can give no guarantee at this stage.
SEOALT