Page
GPS QWP
PRIORITY
FN CLAIR
FM FCO 221781Z
UNCLASSIFIED
HKK dala
INDEX
"
2 € MAR 1978
PA
Mr 13328
F
Take
80
TO PRIORITY KUALA LUMPUR TELNO 127 OF 22 MARCH
INFO BRUNEI SINGAPORE GOVERNOR HONG KONG JAKARTA MANILA CANBERRA WELLINGTON UKMIS NEWYORK WASHINGTON MODUK (DS11)
BRUNEI: GURKHAS
FOR MURRAY FROM SIMONS
1. ''THE TIMES OF 22 MARCH CARRIES AN ARTICLE ABOUT THE GURKHAS, BY HENRY STANHOPE, DEFENCE CORRESPONDENT, WHO WAS RECENTLY IN HONG KONG. IT CONTAINS THE STATEMENT THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT... HAS TOLD THE SULTAN THAT IT IS PREPARED TO LEAVE THE GURKHA BATTALION IN BRUNEI FOR FIVE MORE YEARS''.
2. THE ARTICLE NOTES THAT THE YOUNG ANGLOPHILE SULTAN WHO HAS
MORE MONEY THAN HE KNOWS WHAT TO DO WITH ALREADY PAYS THE FULL
COSTS OF KEEPING THE GURKHAS IN BRUNEI."
3. THE ARTICLE ALSO STATES THAT THE MILITARY AUTHORITIES IN
HONG KONG WOULD CERTAINLY LIKE THE BATTALION TO REMAIN IN BRUNE! BECAUSE IT OFFERS RAPID REINFORCEMENT OF THE HONG KONG GARRISON IN THE EVENT OF A BREAKDOWN IN INTERNAL SECURITY IN THE COLONY**
OWEN
FILES SEAR NEWS O
HKG D
PUSA
PS/LORD GORONWY ROBERTS
MR CORTAZZI, ¦