HCDC: ORAL BRIEFING
HONG KONG
DRAFT
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18 NOVEMBER 1986
Opening Statement by AUS ( DS
1. Hong Kong is in a state of transition.
Its ultimate destiny
is now clear, as is the date by which destiny will arrive. The task
now is to achieve a position by 1997 where a smooth, trouble-free
transfer of power to the PRC can take place.
2. The military have a clear role here not least because of our
pledge that the Government will retain responsibility for the
security of Hong Kong - including internal security - until 1997.
But the military are only part of the whole; and military develop-
ments must be subordinate to, and consequent on, political develop-
ments.
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3. Thus, although we are a mixed civilian/military/diplomatic
team and you are the defence committee the main driving force
of developments in Hong Kong is political. In a moment, therefore,
I shall be looking to Mr Hum to kick off on the overall political
context and the general security situation in Hong Kong today.
4.
This will be complemented by Air Cdre Sills, who is ready to talk
to you on the garrison. All I need to say now, I think, is that we
must obviously get ourselves down from the present garrison strength
of four infantry battalions plus supporting units to zero after 1997.
It is still too soon to say how we might go about this, or what the
composition of the garrison might be in the run-up to the transfer
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