SECRET
TRAINING, E.G IN BRUNEI ITSELF, AND OPERATIONAL EXPERIENCE OUTSIDE HONG KONG. ACCORDINGLY WE ATTACH MUCH IMPORTANCE TO
AT LEAST ONE GURKHA BATTALION CONTINUING TO SERVE WITH OTHER
REGULAR UNITS IN BRITAIN OR ELSEWHERE OUTSIDE HONG KONG ON A
PERMANENT BASIS.
5. IN ALL THESE CIRCUMSTANCES WE CONSIDER THAT THE POSSIBLE
WITHDRAWAL OF THE BATTALION FROM BRUNEI MAKES IT NECESSARY
TO CONSIDER WHETHER THE HONG KONG GARRISON SHOULD REVERT TO
FIVE AND ONE THIRD RESIDENT BATTALION AS POSTULATED BY THE
CHIEFS OF STAFF. OF COURSE IF AGREEMENT IS REACHED WITH THE SULTAN AND THE BATTALION REMAINS IN BRUNEI WE WOULD NOT WISH
TO PRESS FOR ANY REVIEW.
6. IF YOU AGREE WITH OUR VIEW THEN WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF
NO IRREVOCABLE STEP SHOULD BE TAKEN TO REMOVE THE BATTALION
FROM THE REGION, OR TO DISBAND IT, UNTIL THERE HAS BEEN AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR DISCUSSION WITH US ON THE LEVEL OF THE HONG
KONG GARRISON.
<
,
7. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THIS APPROACH TO YOU OR ANY SUBSEQUENT
DISCUSSIONS SHOULD NOT LEAK AS IT WOULD BE DAMAGING TO THE
MORALE OF THE R.H.K.P IF A REAPPRAISAL MADE NECESSARY BY
DEVELOPMENTS IN BRUNEI IMPLIED ANY LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN THE
R.H.K.P.
8 PLEASE REFER IT TO BRUNE! IF YOU THINK NECESSARY.
MACLEHOSE
FILES
HK & GD (5)
DEFENCE D
SEAD
PS
PS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS PS/PUS
MR CORTAZZI
MR MURRAY
-2- SECRET