SECRET UK EYES A
LOCSEN
the Garrison Withdrawal.
The progress of the Police Plan,
the resultant implications and other related factors affecting the withdrawal leading to conclusions are
<<
examined in the following paragraphs.
THE LAND BORDER
20. Police Expansion and Battalion Reductions. The RHKP'S planned recruitment programme commenced a year late.
Redacted under FOI exemption section 27(1)
programmes.
--
and are now developing their training
Notwithstanding this set-back, the RHKP's
target dates for assumption of responsibilities on the
Border remain in line with CDS 7/87. The Police still
envisage taking over half the Border by end-1991. The HKG attach great importance to meeting this deadline because it
will enable the RHKP to demonstrate to the Chinese - well
before 1997 their reliability to assume responsibilities in the SAR post-1997. The HKG views the Police Expansion Plan as flexible and, if necessary, could reallocate
resources so that PTUS can man half the Border by end-1991; this would allow the Garrison to reduce by one battalion in
1992. Thereafter, the Police envisage their achievement of
capability will accelerate; their current timetable for assumption of responsibility for the whole Border is by the end of 1992 earlier than forecast by CDS 7/87. However,
-
the date of 1994 remains a valid timescale for withdrawal of
the second (Gurkha) battalion because the HKG shares the view of MODUK and HQBFHK that a one year gap between achievement of the Police capability and the second
reduction is advisable.
COS49.6-17
13 LOCSEN
UK EYES A
SECRET