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MDHOAN 3379
TIMETABLE FOR WITHDRAWAL CONTAINED IN THE 1987 PLAN REMAINS VALID
AS DO THE POLITICAL AND OTHER FACTORS WHICH UNDERLIE THE PLAN THEY HAVE ENDORSED THE PRINCIPLE THAT THE PLAN SHOULD CONTINUE BE IMPLEMENTED IN A FLEXIBLE WAY AND IN A MANNER WHICH WILL RESPOND TO THE SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES OF HONG KONG WHICH PREVAIL AT ANY GIVEN TIME BETWEEN NOW AND 1997.
THE REVIEW HAS IDENTIFIED THE FOLLOWING SPECIFIC AREAS FOR
FURTHER ACTION:
(A) THE FUTURE RN PRESENCE: FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH THE CHINESE, HMG ARE NOW COMMITTED TO REVIEW PLANS FOR THE FUTURE COMPOSITION OF THE GARRISON. A STUDY WILL BE CONDUCTED OF THE OPTIMUM SCALE AND NATURE OF THE RN PRESENCE AFLOAT IN HONG KONG UNTIL 30 JUNE 1997 (SEE PARA 5(A) ABOVE.
(B) RN PATROL CRAFT: THE TIMING OF THE WITHDRAWAL OF THESE CRAFT WILL BE KEPT UNDER REVIEW, TAKING ACCOUNT OF PROGRESS WITH THE EXPANSION OF THE MARAINE POLICE.
(C) WESSEX AND SCOUT HELICOPTER FORCE: A STUDY OF THE OPTIMUM MIX OF THESE HELICOPTERS WILL BE UNDERTAKEN, TAKING ACCOUNT INTER ALIA OF THE REVISED TIMETABLE FOR THE EXPANSION OF
THE FLYING SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
8. THE REVIEW HAS ALSO CONCLUDED THAT THE TIMING OF THE MAJOR REVIEW, ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE IN 1992/93, SHOULD BE BROUGHT FORWARD TO 1991 AND COMPLETED BY THE END OF THAT YEAR. THIS WOULD BE IN LINE WITH THE BIENNIAL PATTERN OF REVIEWS PROVIDED FOR IN THE PLAN. IT WOULD ALSO ENABLE THE MAHOR REVIEW
TO BE COMPLETED SOME SIX MONTHS BEFORE THE FIRST MAJOR EVENT OF THE WITHDRAWAL CIE THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE FIRST BATTALION). IF THIS IS AGREED, THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES WILL HAVE TO BE INFORMED OF THE CHANGE.
CONCLUSION
9. THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ARE INVITED TO ENDORSE THE MAIN CONCLUSIONS OF THE REVIEW AND IN PARTICULAR THE PROPOSALS TO
BRING FORWARD THE TIMING OF THE MAJOR REVIEW TO 1991.
HOWE
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