VZCZ CDF A304
RBDWDFA
HH
DE RBDWC A1595 1811222
ZNY SSSSS
R 301121Z JUN ZDK.
FM MODUK AIR
TO RBDWW/BDS AIR WASHINGTON
INFO RBMYAI/CRAF HONG KONG
RBDBYI/HQSTC
RBMVAI/RAF KAI TAK
RBDWDFA/FCO LONDON
BT
SECRET
DIG RNW
3
MOD DISTRIBUTION
RECEVED IN
REGISTRY NO. 51
1 JUL 1977
Jakk 002
HKD
Jou
1%
34)
FCO FOR HONG KONG AND GENERAL DEPT AND DEFENCE DEPD.FM DS8A, CLOSURE OF 117 SIGNALS UNIT HONG KONG.
1.THE AIR STAFF DECIDED IN DEC 75 THAT THE RAF WOULD CONTINE, EXCEPTIONALLY, TO MAN THE RADAR INSTALLATION AT TAI MO SHAN UNTIL THE END OF MAR 78 WITH HONG KONG GOVT PAYING THE FULL COST. AT THAT TIME THE USAF, WHO WERE PRIVY TO OUR DISCUSSIONS, AGREED TO CONTINUE TO MAKE SPARES AVAILABLE FOR THIS RADAR FROM THE USAF 13TH AIRFORCE BASED IN MANILA UNDER THE TERMS OF THE COBRA JOE AGREEMENT OF 02 MAR 73.THIS AGREEMENT EXPIRES ALSO IN MAR 78. 2.USAF AUTHORITIES IN HONG KONG HAVE NOW ASKED US INFORMALLY
PAGE
2 RBDWC A1595 S E CRET
TO NOTIFY THE PENTAGON OFFICIALLY THAT WE DO NOT INTEND TO RENEW
THE COBRA JOE AGREEMENT AFTER THE END OF MAR 78.THEY WISH TO
RECEIVE THIS NOTIFICATION AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE TO ENABLE WITHDRAWAL
PLANNING TO BEGIN.
3.AS IT REMAINS OUR INTENTION TO WITHDRAW THIS UNIT AT THAT TIME
WOULD YOU PLEASE NOTIFY THE OFFICE OF PRIME RESPONSIBILITY IN THE
PENTAGON HQ USAF/INY AS YOU THINK FIT.OUR PRESENT PLAN IS TO CEASE
OPERATION AT TAI MO SHAN ON 31 MAR 78 AND TO CLEAR SITE BY 01 JUN
78.
4.PSE INFORM DSB ONCE USAF HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED
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NUMM