ZIB050 11102 RECALLED MESSAGE 305C0403 (VZA)
VV
WDB051KWA045
no RBDWC
DE REMYAD 008 3050429
ZNR UUUUU
0 010400Z NOV
FM TPS HONG KONG
TO MODUK
BT
UNCLAS
DIG RTT/LEV
บบ
FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF QUESTION AND ANSWER BRIEF FOR USE BY MINISTER AT PRESS CONFERENCE SCHEDULED FOR 0830Z AT KAI TAK AIRPORT PD QUOTE Q1 PD WHY WERE THESE REDUCTIONS NOT MADE TO THE GARRISON AT THE SAME TIME AS THOSE AGREED IN MARCH THIS YEAR
A1 PD AS THE DEFENCE REVIEW MADE CLEAR CMM THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF HONG KONG WERE TO BE THE SUBJECT OF A DELAILED STUDY CMM AND THIS IS NOW COMPLETE AND THE RESULTS AGREED BETWEEN BOTH GOVERNMENTS PD THE REDUCTIONS ANNOUNCED IN MARCH WERE A SENSIBLE FIRST STEP PD Q2 PD WHAT DO THE REDUCTIONS MEAN IN TERMS OF
A PD MEN
B PD COSTS SAVED
C PD REDUCED CAPABILITIES PD
A2 PD A PD DETAILS ARE STILL BEING WORKED OUT CMM BUT IN THE ORDER OF 300 MEN
PAGE 2 RBMYAD 008 UNCLAS
B PD OVER HONG KONG DOLLARS 200M PER YEAR PD
C PD THE BASIC ROLE OF THE GARRISON REMAINS UNCHANGED CMM BUT IN THE CURRENT CLIMATE IN HONG KONG CMM BOTH SIDES CONSIDER THE GARRISON ADEQUATE TO DEAL WITH MOST EMERGENCIES PD
Q4 PD WHY HAS IT BEEN DECIDED TO DO AWAY WITH THE FRIGATE PD A4 PD BOTH SIDES HAVE REACHED THE DIFFICULT DICISION THAT THE DAY-TO-DAY NEEDS OF HONG KONG ARE BEST MET BY PATROL CRAFT PD Q5 PD HOW MUCH LONGER CAN THE PRESENT BOATS REMAIN IN SERVICE PD A6 PD UNTIL ABOUT 1983 PD
Q7 PD WHO PAYS FOR THEIR REPLACEMENT PD
A7 PD IT IS TOO EARLY TO SAY PD
Q8 PD CAN YOU GIVE A TIMETABLE FOR THE REDUCTIONS PD
A8 PD NOT YET CMM AS DETAILS STILL HVAE TO BE WORKED OUT PD WE
WOULD OBVIOUSLY HOPE TO PUT THEM INTO EFFECT AS SOON AS IS
PRACTICABLE CMM SO THAT THE REQUIRED SAVINGS CAN BE MADE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
PD
Q9 PD WHAT PROPORTION OF HKS CONTRIBUTION IS PLOUGHED BACK INTO THE LOCAL ECONOMY PD
A9 PD ALL OF IT PD IN FACT 70 PER CENT OF THE CURRENT TOTAL GARRISON COST IS SPENT IN HK
1
349)