CONFIDENTIAL
4.
Shortly before he left, General
The
Sir J Archer, the recently replaced Commander of the British Forces in Hong
Kong, floated the idea that the garrison in Hong Kong should be increased. uncertainty over the future of the battalion in Brunei was only one element in the case which he saw for doing this. The MOD declined to enter into a discussion
with him over this:
they said that if
there were factors justifying an increase in the garrison these should be put by
the Governor to the FCO. The Governor has not in fact shown any inclination so far to widen the debate beyond considera- tion of the effect of the possible with- withdrawal of the Gurkhas from Brunei.
CONFIDENTIAL