GPS 600
SECRET
FM HONG KONG 261034Z AUG 82
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
SECRET
TELEGRAM NUMBER 938 OF 26 AUGUST.
FOR CLIFT FROM GOVERNOR,
YOURTELNO 645.6
FOLLOWING ARE OUR COMMENTS ON ANNEX B.
2. PARA 2:
1
(A) FOR ENGINEERING SQUADRON ** READ **ENGINEER
(E) ADD ''SUPPORT** BEFORE HELICOPTERS''
REGIMENT**
OPY
Parola
(C) REPLACE LAST TWO SENTENCES TO READ **IN TOTAL OVER 8,000 MEN (20 PER CENT UK, 60 PER CENT GURKHA AND 20 PER CENT HONG KONG CHINESE). IN ADDITION THE ROYAL HONG KONG REGIMENT (THE VOLUNTEERS)
AND THE ROYAL HONG KONG AUXILIARY AIR FORCE COME UNDER CBF'S COMMAND
WHEN CALLED OUT. THERE IS PROVISION FOR AD HOC REINFORCEMENT FROM
BOTH UK AND BRUNE!''
3. PARA 5:
(A) DELETE **(BUT SOON TO BE THREE)'' AS THIS IS NOT YET AGREED.
(B) DELETE SECOND SENTENCE AND ADD TO END OF THIRD SENTENCE **
AND FOR THESE REASONS WE WISH TO CONTINUE A MILITARY CONNECTION
WITH BRUNE!**
•
(C) ADD TO LAST SENTENCE BUT ITS VERY PRESENCE PROVIDES VALUABLE
COVER FOR UK AND ALLIED INTELLIGENCE ACTIVIT
4. PARA 8:
(A) SUGGEST USE THE PHRASE "BRITISH ADMINISTRATION AND AUTHORITY'
THROUGHOUT AS I HAVE ALREADY SUGGESTED IN MY PARAGRAPH 14 OF MY
TELNO 904:
(B) IN THE FIRST SENTENCE AFTER THE WORD **PROVIDED'' ALTER TO
READ THE SIZE, COMPOSITION AND USE OF THE GARRISON WAS UNFETTERED AND A CLEAR LINE.....
(C) FIFTH AND SIXTH SENTENCES TO READ THE GARRISON'S ROLES IN
THE CONTROL OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AND IN INTERNAL SECURITY WOULD
BE THROWN INTO SHARP RELIEF. THERE COULD BE PRESENTATIONAL
DIFFICULTIES BUT THEY WOULD BE NO DIFFERENT TO THOSE NOW IN
EXISTENCE I E THE PRESENT ROLE OF THE GARRISON IN SUPPORT OF THE CIVIL POWER **
(D) UNDER BRITISH ADMINISTRATION AND AUTHORITY WOULD THE CHINESE
NECESSARILY OBJECT TO A CONTINUING BRITISH MILITARY PRESENCE
IF WE PRESENTED IT AS A DEFENCE AGAINST THE RUSSIANS? IF THE LAST
FIVE SENTENCES ARE TO BE LEFT IN THEN IT SHOOULD BE MADE CLEAR
THAT THEY AMOUNT TO A COMMENT IN THE LIKELIHOOD OF THE
IMPLICATIONS OF THIS OPTION BEING TOLERABLE TO THE CHINESE.
5. PARA 9: 1 DOUBT WHETHER THE CHINESE WOULD ACCEPT A UK FORCE
IN AN SAR OF CHINA. THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE WOULD APPEAR TO BE A
LOCAL PARAMILITARY FORCE RESPONSIBLE TO THE GOVERNOR, AND NOT TO MOD.
6. YOUR PARAGRAPH ENTITLED ''INTERNAL SECURITY**. ADD ''EXPERIENCE
HAS SHOWN THAT THE RHKPF IS AN EFFECTIVE PUBLIC ORDER FORCE
PROVIDING IT HAS HM FORCES IN SUPPORT''
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17.