01/26/93
13:56
☎202 898 4255
26 January 1993
BRITISH EMB WASH
அக்கு
British Embassy Washington
002
Jonathan Marohall
Hong Kong Department FCO
(BY FAX: (071) 270-3387)
Na Janatha
пе
9100 Massachusetts Ave NW
Washington D.C. 20008-3600
Telephone: (202)
Telex: RCA 211427 or 216760-WLI 64224
Facsimile: (202)
*
HONG KONG MILITARY ISSUES
1.
I was contacted recently by Julia Ackerman, from the Centre for Defence Institute of Boston. She said she was preparing an article for publication on military aspects of the Hong Kong handover. wondered if we could give her any information on the following:
She
China had
(1) She understood that last May we had offered to relinquish five military sites in Hong Kong for the PLA.
Where did matters now stand? apparently rejected the offer.
(ii) We had apparently wanted to demolish The Prince of What was the Wales building, the Chinese had wanted to occupy it. upshot?
(iii)
(iv)
Had we moved HMS Tamar to Stone Cutter's Island?
What were our plans for reducing the Hong Kong garrison? She understood that we intended to keep the Royal Naval
Was this true? squadron at full strength until the handover. Would the Gurkhas be cut, and if so, by how much?
(v)
Finally, She understood that we and the Chinese had
Were there recently cancelled military exercises in the region. any further details we could give her?
2. Sorry to burden you with this, but I would be grateful for any
Ms Ackerman answers you are able to give me as soon as possible. actually needs to subject her article by the end of the week. further material on these issues would be welcome.
Any
Ys Be
علا
SD Pattison