CONFIDENTIAL
ΠΙΣΗ
4. We therefore face the unattractive prospect of having to withdraw the patrol craft in 1992, in the
absence of any agreement over the financing. There is
now an urgent need for a decision but before committing
ourselves irrevocably, I believe, as I made clear in my minute to you on 18 June abut HMS Endurance, it would be
sensible to consider this issue in the wider context of our overall defence responsibilities for Hong Kong (including the garrison withdrawal plan and the Gurkhas)
and our other out of area responsibilities. For instance
the patrol craft visit Brunei and Malaysia where we have substantial interests and take part in joint exercises
such as the recent one under the Five Power Defence
Agreement. Accordingly I have asked my officials to
produce an urgent paper on this, and I should be grateful if you could agree to defer any final decision for a
couple of weeks until this work has been completed.
5. I am sending copies of this minute to the
Prime Minister and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury,
and to Sir Robin Butler.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
4 July 1991
みに
CONFIDENTIAL
(DOUGLAS HURD)