Mr Mansfield
CONFIDENTIAL
1051/1
НКК 05
RECEIVED IN REGATRY MO. 51 10 AUG 1978
INEX
REG: TRY Action Tren
41
A
B
C
n
F
G
TRAINING FOR ZAMBIAN POLICE
1. In May of this year the Zambian Minister of Home Affairs, Mr Wilted Phiri approached our High Commissioner
in Lusaka requesting assistance for training for the paramilitary wing of the Zambian police. Mr Phiri told Mr Allinson that the Zambians would particularly welcome the despatch of an SAS training team to Zambia. Ministers however accepted our recommendation
that it would be politically undesirable to send the SAS to such a sensitive region in Africa at this time, and agreed with Mr Macoun's suggestion that we should pursue the possibility of the provision of training for the Zambians from Hong Kong
police instructors.
2. We originally anticipated that a small team of Zambian police instructors should visit Hong Kong for specialist training. Lusaka subsequently told us however that Phiri would prefer the training to take place in Zambia. Although they were initially reluctant to take this on, Hong Kong finally agreed to provide two training instructors to visit Lusaka for three months in February 1979. Hong Kong asked, however, for further details of the precise Zambian requirements. Er Allinson has obtained these, but Hong Kong consider that these are more than their instructors can handle. They have sent a separate telegram to Mr Macoun underlining the limitations on their
anpower resources.
3.
Owing to their own requirements, and the difficulties posed by senior staff changes coming up over the next few months, Hong Kong have made it clear that they would be unable to spare rore than two officers to visit Zambia. I think we must accept this. But on the other hand, particularly given the continuing crisis over Rhodesia and our concern at the security situation within Zambia, Mr Rowlands has instructed that we need to ensure that we give the Zambians a positive and helpful response as soon as possible. Moreover, the Secretary of State has directed that we should give maximum support to efforts by African States to enable them to defend themsleves against subversion from
within or from without.
CONTDENTIAL
14.
Page 60Page 61