SECRET UK EYES A LOCSEN
asked if the time-scale given was a worst or best case. He
was advised the former.
23. The Chairman closed discussion on the subject by saying
that the Committee would wish note to be taken of its
anxieties and of its eagerness for any further information
that might become available.
ITEM 4. SCOUT HELICOPTER IMMEDIATE READINESS RESERVE (IRR)
TRIAL.
FCO
HQ BFHK
24. The Chairman notified the meeting that LTC funding for
SCOUT helicopters was currently based on a reduction from
8 to 6 helicopters after Sep 89, in accordance with the
decisions contained in the original Garrison Withdrawal Plan
- CDS 7/87. At the last HKSC meeting, CBF had indicated his
willingness to accept this reduction provided that the 2
SCOUTS removed from UE remained in Hong Kong. During
staffing of the First Revise of the Garrison Withdrawal
Plan, the Army Department had stressed its strong aversion
to an establishment based on 6 UE plus 2 In Use Reserve
(IUR) Aircraft and proposed instead the retention of the
original 8 UE helicopters. RP (Army), however, had advised
that a bid for LTC funding for 2 additional SCOUTS as UE
aircraft post 1989 was most unlikely to succeed.
25. A pragmatic solution - involving a trial of
trial of a force
level of
of 6 6 UE plus 2 Immediate Readiness Reserve (IRR)
SCOUTS had therefore been proposed and agreed, The Chairman
invited the Secretary to brief the Committee on the aims and
provisions of this trial.
26.
The Secretary advised that the
the trial had originally
been planned to run from 1 Apr to 30 Sep 89, However, the
delay in submission of the First Revise to the COS had
necessitated a postponement of the trial pending its
endorsement by the COS. The trial would now run from 1 May
LOCSEN SECRET UK EYES A