FROM MOD UK
то CBF HONG KONG
SECRET
DIG KDO
1. HONG KONG FORCE LEVELS. CBF HONG KONG KDO 1401002 APRIL
REFERS.
2.
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR CLARIFICATION IN REFERENCE A OF NATURE OF
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT STUDY ON STATIONING AN ADDITIONAL GURKHA
BATTALION IN HONG KONG IF AND WHEN THE BATTALION IS WITHDRAWN
FROM BRUNET.
3. YOU WILL BE AWARE FROM BRUNEI TELS NO 88290
COPIED
TO HONG KONG THAT WE ARE REASONABLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT OUTCOME OF
FORTHCOMING NEGOTIATIONS. UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES BOTH MOD AND
FCO CONSIDER THAT HONG KONG GOVERNMENT STUDY IS PREMATURE, AND THAT,
UNLESS THERE ARE COMPELLING NEW FACTORS AFFECTING HONG KONG SECURITY
NOT ASSOCIATED WITH REINFORCEMENT PROBLEM, IT SHOULD BE HELD IN
ABEYANCE UNTIL BRUNEI OUTCOME IS KNOWN.
SECRET