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SECRET

SECRET

FM UKREP JLG HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 24093OZ FCO

TELNO 12

OF 23130OZ JANUARY 91

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, HONG KONG

اد

153707 MDHIAN 0525

16

FOR PAUL, HKD

YOUR TELNO 6: DEFENCE LANDS

NEGOTIATIONS SO FAR

1.

IT HAD BEEN OUR HOPE DURING NEGOTIATION OF THE JD AND SUBSEQUENTLY THAT THE CHINESE COULD BE PERSUADED NOT TO STATION MILITARY FORCES IN HONG KONG AFTER 1997. PLAINLY HOWEVER THE DECISION WAS TAKEN IN 1984 AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL, WE BELIEVE BY DENG HIMSELF, THAT ELEMENTS OF THE PLA LAND, SEA AND AIR FORCES WOULD BE STATIONED IN HONG KONG. CHINESE DETERMINATION WAS REINFORCED BY REACTION IN HONG KONG TO THE EVENTS IN TIANANMEN.

2. ALTHOUGH WE HAVE NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED A NEED FOR CHINESE FORCES TO BE BASED IN HONG KONG WE HAVE ALWAYS ACCEPTED THEIR RIGHT TO DO SO AND THEREFORE SOUGHT TO MAKE APPROPRIATE ARRANGEMENTS FOR AN EVENTUAL CHINESE GARRISON BASED ON EXISTING FACILITIES USED BY THE BRITISH GARRISON. WE ACCORDINGLY FORMULATED A PLAN TO CONCENTRATE

CHINESE FORCES INTO FOUR CORE SITES WHICH WOULD CONTAIN ALL THE

FACILITIES CURRENTLY ENJOYED BY THE BRITISH GARRISON.

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Redacted Under FOI Exemption Sec 27(1)

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