SECRET
FM FCO
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELNO 115
OF 121145Z JAN 90
SECRET
HKC062
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY 31 JAN 1990
DESK OFFICER
REGISTRY
INDEX
PA
Action Taken
(2
013052
MDLOAN 1828
OP COPY DIST?
FOR BARNES (SECURITY BRANCH)
THE ROYAL NAVY PRESENCE AFLOAT
1. WE WERE GRATEFUL TO RECEIVE A COPY OF YOUR PAPER OF
28 NOVEMBER ABOUT THE TASKS AND ROLE OF THE ROYAL NAVY IN HONG KONG. THIS WAS MOST TIMELY AS WE HAD BEEN ABOUT TO SEEK YOUR
FURTHER VIEWS ON THIS DIFFICULT AND SENSITIVE ISSUE.
2.
THE MATTER WILL BE DISCUSSED AT A MEETING WITH MOD IN EARLY
FEBRUARY.
3. AS YOU MAY KNOW, MOD HAVE RECENTLY CARRIED OUT A REVIEW OF WHAT MIGHT BE THE MOST SUITABLE AND COST-EFFECTIVE WAY OF RETAINING A NAVAL PRESENCE AFLOAT IN HONG KONG, SHOULD IT BE DECIDED THAT THIS WOULD BE NECESSARY AND DESIRABLE. THE MOD CONTINUE TO CONSIDER THAT THERE IS NO MILITARY (MILITARY) CASE FOR THE RETENTION OF SUCH A FORCE ONCE THE MARPOL CAPABILITY HAS BEEN DEVELOPED. IN THEIR VIEW, THE CASE FOR RETENTION RESTS PRINCIPALLY ON WIDER POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS.
4. MOD HAVE CONCLUDED THAT IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT ONE VESSEL WOULD BE AVAILABLE AT ALL TIMES, THREE WOULD BE NEEDED TO BE STATIONED IN HONG KONG. THEIR PRELIMINARY VIEW ON THE TYPE OF
SHIP THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED IS THAT THE PEACOCK CLASS PATROL
VESSEL MAY BE UNNECESSARILY SOPHISTICATED FOR THE RANGE OF TASKS THAT A RESIDUAL NAVAL FORCE MIGHT BE EXPECTED TO CARRY OUT. ON
THE OTHER HAND, THERE MAY BE SOME PRESENTATIONAL ADVANTAGES IN PRESERVING CONTINUITY. THE ALTERNATIVE WOULD BE TO REPLACE THE PEACOCKS WITH BIRD CLASS PATROL VESSELS WHICH, ALTHOUGH LESS CAPABLE THAN THE PEACOCKS (EG THEY HAVE ONLY A LIMITED OCEAN-GOING CAPABILITY), WOULD BE CHEAPER IN TERMS OF RUNNING COSTS. THE ANNUAL COST OF THREE BIRD CLASS VESSELS WOULD BE POUNDS 1.5 MILLION, COMPARED WITH POUNDS 2.5 MILLION FOR THREE PEACOCKS.
THERE WILL, HOWEVER, BE SOME ONE-OFF COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH A CHANGE IN THE CLASS OF VESSEL.