CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
'TELNO 9
OF 0317332 JANUARY 89
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
INFO PRIORITY MODUK
HKC 462/1
4
127201 MDHOAN 1840
MODUK FOR SEC (O)(C)
MIPT: DEFENCE AND PUBLIC ORDER: WITHDRAWAL OF THE GARRISON: TEXT
. OF DRAFT PAPER
INTRODUCTION
1.
THE BRITISH SIDE'S PLANS FOR THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE BRITISH GARRISON FROM HONG KONG HAVE BEEN EXPLAINED TO THE CHINESE SIDE IN A SERIES OF PAPERS. THE PRESENT PAPER DISCUSSES PLANNING FOR THE WITHDRAWAL IN 1992 OF THE FIRST OF THE FOUR BATTALIONS AT PRESENT IN THE TERRITORY, AND THE TIMING OF AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF OUR INTENTIONS.
BACKGROUND
2.
AS PREVIOUS PAPERS HAVE EXPLAINED, AN EXPANDED POLICE TACTICAL UNIT (PTU) WILL RESUME FROM THE GARRISON FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PREVENTION OF ILLEGAL ENTRY INTO HONG KONG. DEFENCE AND PUBLIC ORDER PAPERS X SET OUT THE PROGRAMME FOR ESTABLISHING A NEW PTU DETACHMENT OF SIX COMPANIES FOR THIS TASK.
3.
ACCORDING TO THE BRITISH SIDE'S PLANNING, THE FIRST TWO ADDITIONAL PTU COMPANIES WILL, ON FORMATION, UNDERTAKE OPERATIONS WITH THE MILITARY TO PREVENT ILLEGAL ENTRY INTO HONG KONG. THE
• FIRST TWO ADDITIONAL PTU COMPANIES WILL THUS GAIN EXPERIENCE TO BE PASSED ONTO SUBSEQUENT COMPANIES. AFTER THE SECOND TWO COMPANIES ARE OPERATIONAL, OPERATIONS WITH THE MILITARY WILL CONTINUE FOR A PERIOD, DURING WHICH THE MILITARY WILL BE ABLE TO ADVISE THE POLICE AND ACT AS A RESERVE IN CASE OF NEED. THE POLICE WILL THEN RESUME FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ONE HALF OF THE BORDER, RELIEVING ONE OF THE TWO BATTALIONS OF THE GARRISON WHICH CARRY OUT BORDER DUTIES UNDER PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS.
4. THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S PROGRAMME FOR ESTABLISHING THE NEW PTU DETACHMENT ENVISAGES THAT THE FIRST TWO COMPANIES WILL BE FORMED IN 1990-91, AND THE SECOND TWO COMPANIES IN 1991-92.
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