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REPORT. ALTHOUGH JOINT THEATRE PLAN (EAST) NO. 30 IN THEORY PROVIDE
FOR A REINFORCEMENT BATTALION FROM THE UK TO ARRIVE WITHIN 5 DA
THE LOSS OF NEARBY REINFORCEMENT CAPABILITY FROM BRUNEI WITHIN
HOURS WOULD BE SERIOUS, NOT LEAST BECAUSE REINFORCEMENT FROM THE U.K. MIGHT BE MORE DIFFICULT OR TAKE LONGER TO ARRANGE THEM FROM BRUNEI, AND THE MEN WOULD NOT BE ACCLIMATISED TO TROPICAL CONDITIONS.
5. IT ALSO REMAINS IMPORTANT THAT THE GURKHA FIELD FORCE'S
OPPORTUNITIES FOR TRAINING AND SERVING ALONGSIDE OTHER BATTALIONS
OF THE BRITISH ARMY SHOULD BE MAINTAINED. THERE IS UNDOUBTEDLY THE
POSSIBLILITY OF A FEELING OF ISOLATION DEVELOPING AMONGST THE GURKHAS, THOUGH I AM ASSURED BY CBF THAT THIS COULD BE COUNTERED AND SHOULD NOT RESULT IN LOSS OF OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE TRAINING FACILITIES IN HK ARE LIMITED AND ALL THE TERRAIN OF THE TRAINING AREAS IS WELL KNOWN BY THE MEN OF THE BATTALLIONS. THE OPPORTUNITY, THEREFORE OF SERVICE IN BRUNEI GIVES EXCELLENT TRAINING FACILITIES FOR THE HK BATTALIONS AND THE
CHANCE OF ROTATING THEM THROUGH BRUNEI IS VERY BENEFICIAL. IF, FOR
SOME REASON, THIS OPPORTUNITY CEASES TO EXIST, THEN IT WOULD BE ESSENTIAL FOR ONE GURKHA BATTALION TO BE POSTED ELSEWHERE THAN IN
HK. PRESUMABLY IT WOULD REMAIN IN BRITAIN. THE OTHER 3 1/3 GURKHA
BATTALIONS WOULD THEN BE ROTATED THROUGH THE REMAINING GURKHA
BATTALION FOR TRAINING PURPOSES.
6. IN SUMMARY, THEREFORE, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE SHOULD BE
ABLE TO CONTINUE TO LOOK TO BRUNEI FOR SPEEDY INITIAL REINFORCEMENT
IN A CRISIS, AND THE FACILITITIES THERE ARE ESSENTIAL FOR GURKHA TRAINING AND MORALE. ANY SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM OF
DISENGAGING THE UK FROM BRUNEI AFFAIRS WHICH INCLUDED THE (NEXT
THREE WORDS UNDERLINED) QUID PRO QUO OF A CONTINUED GURKHA PRESENCE
IN BRUNEI COULD ONLY BE VERY MUCH TO HONG KONG'S ADVANTAGE.
MACLEHOSE
FILES
SEAD HKGD DEF D
MR.CORTAZZI
MR.MURRAY
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