HKA 063/1
SECRET
ISTRY
11 MAF 1993
SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TELNO 342
TO IMMEDIATE F
OF 021117Z MARCH 93
DESK
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
KEGISTRY
sion Taken
UKREP JLG HONG KONG
AM
16
025001
MDHIAN 1677
3
M. Man's fi
1073
Mr Pinte
All digest, the
dirars.
3/3
PERSONAL FOR SIR JOHN COLES, DUSS, FROM GOVERNOR
2642 (4AND 268 (52)
(50) HKA 063/2 (1992) MY TELNOS 2642 AND 2681 AND YOUR TELNO 1599 OF 1992: GARRISON WITHDRAWAL
1. SINCE THE EXCHANGE OF TURS IN NOVEMBER 1992, I HAVE DISCUSSED THE QUESTION OF THE GARRISON WITHDRAWAL WITH THE DEFENCE SECRETARY IN JANUARY AND SIR CHRISTOPHER FRANCE IN FEBRUARY. DURING THESE MEETINGS IT BECAME CLEAR THAT CONSIDERABLE WORK IS NEEDED TO CONVINCE THE MOD OF THE IMPORTANCE AND URGENCY, OF REDUCING DEFENCE COSTS IN REAL TERMS EACH YEAR. WITHOUT SUCH CUTS, FOR REASONS THAT I EXPLAIN BELOW, I SEE VERY GREAT DIFFICULTIES IN MAINTAINING LEGCO SUPPORT FOR THE DEFENCE COSTS AGREEMENT. BEFORE WE TAKE THIS WHOLE ISSUE FURTHER WITH THE GARRISON HERE AND WITH MOD, I WANTED TO SEEK FCO VIEWS ON HOW WE SHOULD PROCEED.
ROLE OF THE GARRISON
2. SINCE THE 1950S IT HAS BEEN ACCEPTED THAT THE GARRISON COULD NOT RESIST A PLA INVASION OF HONG KONG. THEIR MAIN ROLE IN RECENT YEARS, APART FROM PROVIDING A VISIBLE REMINDER OF BRITISH SOVEREIGNTY, HAS BEEN TO MAN THE BORDER IN ORDER TO PREVENT ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AND TO SUPPORT THE MARINE POLICE AGAINST SMUGGLING AND TERRITORIAL INCURSIONS AT SEA. THEIR INTERNAL SECURITY ROLE WAS LAST EXERCISED IN 1967. IT IS EXTREMELY HARD TO SEE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH IT WOULD BE EXERCISED AGAIN. IN THE RUN UP TO 1997, IF THERE WERE A BREAKDOWN OF INTERNAL ORDER, I WOULD ENVISAGE THAT IT MIGHT BE NECESSARY TO USE THE POLICE WHO NOW MAN THE BORDER TO REINFORCE THOSE ON THE STREETS, AND TO USE THE ARMY TO REPLACE THE POLICE ON THE BORDER. IT MUST BE ARGUABLE WHETHER IN-PLACE FORCES OF THE PRESENT SIZE ARE NECESSARY FOR THAT TASK. IF THERE WAS A REAL NEED TO DEPLOY THE ARMY ON THE BORDER FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, IT SHOULD BE POSSIBLE TO SEND REINFORCEMENTS.
3.
FOLLOWING THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE ARMY FROM BORDER DUTIES,
THE
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