SECRET UK EYES A LOCSEN
tied, to the withdrawals of battalions. Clearly, the support of the 3 major
Gurkha support units the Queens Gurkha Engineers, the Queens Gurkha Signals
as well as of many other
and the Gurkha Transport Regiment (or alternatives)
-
minor units will be required until the final withdrawal. However, the size
and scale of the Army supporting arms and services should be directly related to
the roles and operational requirements of the remaining garrison battalions and
RN and RAF units in Hong Kong at all stages of the rundown. Any requirements
for Army supporting arms and services to support the Police should also be taken
into due consideration. As a principle, Army supporting arms and services
should nevertheless be maintained at the leanest, practicable level possible.
The first significant reductions in Army supporting arms and services will take
place in 1992. A number of studies will be conducted by HQBFHK during 1989,
based on the new Concept of Operations; these will provide the foundation of
plans for the progressive withdrawal of supporting arms and services related to
the operational requirements of the reducing garrison.
24. Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Study. It is considered that civil
unrest in Hong Kong is a likely threat, and that EOD is a likely task for
which inadequate preparations have so far been made. The mal-location
of UK EOD assets in Hong Kong for protracted periods would be unsound, bringing
operational risk to UK and to other main theatres. Rectification of the
situation in Hong Kong may warrant the availability of dedicated assets for the
garrison. Further study is therefore required by HQBFHK regarding the provision
of a properly composed EOD package for the garrison. This study is to be
completed as soon as possible so that a capability is available in theatre
before the announcement of the first battalion withdrawal is made in mid 1989.
ROW 113 (HONG)
16
SECRET UK EYES A LOCSEN