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UK EYES A
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SUPPORT WITHIN THE GARRISON
91. CDS 13/89 directed that the size and scale of Supporting Arms and
Services was to be related to the roles and operational requirements of the remaining Garrison at all stages during the rundown. A further stipulation was that all events were to be related to the withdrawal of the infantry battalions. There is no change to that view.
92. Support for the Garrison has been considered on a tri-Service basis, and considerable rationalisation within this area has already taken place. For example, the medical, dental and education functions
are run on a tri-Service basis, and in accordance with the
recommendations of the Review of Logistic Support Functions in Hong Kong (PAO 11/89) steps have been taken to rationalise the logistic and administrative procedures. In this context maritime support, fuel management and service contracts have been rationalised and further
studies are underway.
93. HQ British Forces have reviewed in considerable detail the requirement for supporting Arms and Services at each stage of the withdrawal plan, and the results of this study are reflected in a separate paper (3), a synopsis of which is included at Annex C. For planning purposes the study was based on the assumption that two battalions would remain in theatre until the final months, and that
the quality of infrastructure and support, particularly for dependants, would not be downgraded. What is clear from the study is that the requirement to provide the correct level of operational and administrative support to a widely dispersed garrison is not directly linked to the number of infantry battalions in station. Furthermore, the withdrawal of a battalion does not automatically mean that the corresponding number of sub-units from the principle combat support and combat service support can also be withdrawn. The results of the
(3) HK 10011 J3 Ops dtd 2 May 91.
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UK EYES A SECRET