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(Commitments)
From: M L Howard Secretariat (Overseas)
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
Main Building, Whitehall SW1
071 218 6272
A Paul Esq
Hong Kong Dept
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
King Charles St
London SW1
D/Sec (0) (C) 6/7
27 June 1991
Dear Allan,
HKB 063/1
HONG KONG GARRISON: WITHDRAWAL OF FIRST BATTALION
1. HQBF Hong Kong have asked if some further clarification can be given to the Hong Kong government on our plans for the withdrawal of the first battalion from the garrison next year. This follows your telegram to Hong Kong the week before last (which I saw in draft, though not the transmitted version). The idea is to clear up any misunderstanding over the distinction between one battalion becoming non operational in April 1992, and the process of amalgamating 1/2 Gurkha Rifles and 2/2 Gurkha Rifles which will not be complete until September 1992. The purpose of doing so is to give a clearer indication to the Hong Kong government of what forces will be available in the Territory during this period if only for DCA purposes.
2. We could signal direct, but I understand that both the garrison and the Hong Kong government think it would be more appropriate for the follow up telegram to come from you - though I would have no objection if you wished to attribute the substance of what is said to MOD. I attach a draft which you may wish to use.
-Youn
Martin
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