SECRET UK EYES A
LOCSEN
provision had previously been made for the 3 remaining RN
HKPC to have a ship-borne FPC capability, with the FPC
crewed by RM personnel on each ship's complement. It is expected that MARPOL will have a land-based FPC capability by early 1989 but HKG wish the RN to retain the ship-borne
FPCS as long as there are PC in HK waters.
1991.
33. Withdrawal of 3 Remaining PC. CDS 7/87 predicated
withdrawal of the 3 remaining PC sometime during or after
This timescale was selected on the basis of a
continuing requirement for 3 PC at least until MARPOL had
all 5 new SC launches operational and was ready to fulfil
the RN's deep water anti-II role (planned for 1991). As at January 1989, HKG maintained that there are no grounds for
concern regarding the timescale for the expansion of the MARPOL fleet. The HKG stated that they were now able to deploy 4 SC launches, but that one additional and 2
replacement SC launches still remained to be delivered
(timescales not defined). They advised that maintenance support for MARPOL was "the significant problem" but that
measures were in hand to address this. Currently, therefore, 1991 remains the planning date for transfer of
the RN's anti-II role to MARPOL. It should be noted, however, that CDS 7/87 emphasised there is no requirement to take a decision until 1990 on the future disposal of the 3 PC remaining in Hong Kong. This approach may change in the light of the study into the future RN presence (discussed at paragraph 35) but there is currently provision in LTC assumptions for retention of the PC until March 1992.
34. Given the uncertainty over the precise timing of MARPOL's future acceptance of SC launches, and the fact that the HKG have yet to submit a firm statement of requirement concerning the extension of the afloat naval presence to
COS49.6-17
22 LOCSEN
UK EYES A
SECRET