c)
4
SECRE
ii) that the HK Government. was prepared
to accept a lower standard of security
at the airport as a result of the
move.
Stonecutters Island: the only obstacle
to release of the Island was the difficulty
of relocating the ammunition dump which
was estimated to cost $50 to $60m to
reprovision.
d)
e)
HMS Tamar and
Victoria Barracks: at least one of these
should be retained, probably HMS Tamar,
but over a longer period (ten years at least),
there could be a steady run down of Victoria
Barracks with appropriate reprovisioning
in Tamar and elsewhere.
10.
Commodore Perowne agreed that the C.S. had given a
full summary of the proceedings and added that it had
always been his understanding that the installations at
Kai Tak rated as a high security priority with the HK
Government.
C.B.F. said that Kai Tak could be released
but that he could not go so far as to say this was acceptable
without considering the implications further. He thought a
move could be more expensive than the $55m quoted and would
result in lower standards of living and working conditions.
He had not had the opportunity to examine the proposal in
detail but he felt there were distinct security advantages
in retaining Kai Tak both from the point of view of security
of the airport itself and for the reception area for
reinforcements. He thought there would be greater financial
advantage to the HK Government in the long term in the
proposals for Victoria Barracks and HMS Tamar than in taking
over Kai Tak.
SECRE
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