iscak
Strony
argument
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0250011 MDHIAN 1677
MAIN OPERATIONAL ROLE OF THE GARRISON AT PRESENT IS LIMITED TO
ROYAL NAVY SUPPORT OF THE MARINE POLICE AND, ALTHOUGH THIS IS A LESSER TASK, ARMY SUPPORT OF THE POLICE IN THE NON-URBAN AREAS IN
ANTI-SMUGGLING SURVEILLANCE.
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4 FOR ALL THE ABOVE REASONS, I THINK THE PURPOSE OF MOD'S 1993 REVIEW SHOULD BE TO IDENTIFY WAYS TO SPEED UP THE WITHDRAWAL OF
THE GARRISON. IN PRACTICE THAT WOULD AT LEAST MEAN WITHDRAWING A
SECOND GHURKA BATTALION IN 1994 RATHER THAN IN 1995. BUT FOR THE
COST REASONS SET OUT BELOW IT WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY ALSO BE
NECESSARY TO IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL SAVINGS QUICKLY.
COSTS
5. SPENDING ON THE GARRISON IN THE 1992/93 FINANCIAL YEAR HAS EXCEEDED THE BUDGETARY PROVISION APPROVED BY LEGCO. IN PART THIS WAS DUE TO UNDER-ESTIMATES BY THE GARRISON. BUT WE HAVE ALSO QUESTIONED A NUMBER OF ITEMS IN THE 4TH QUARTER ACCOUNTS PRESENTED TO US. IF SATISFACTORY ANSWERS ARE RECEIVED WE WILL PAY UP. BUT GIVEN THE TIME CONSTRAINTS THIS WILL MOST LIKELY BE IN APRIL, WHEN ANY JUSTIFIED BALANCE WILL BE MET FROM NEXT YEAR'S APPROPRIATIONS. I HAVE EXPLAINED THE POSITION TO SIR
CHRISTOPHER FRANCE.
6.
MOD HAVE POINTED TO OUR FAVOURABLE BUDGET AND RESERVE
SITUATION. THEY HAVE ASKED WHY WE COULD NOT CONVINCE LEGCO OF THE NEED FOR SUPPLEMENTARY FUNDS. THE REASONS, WHICH APPLY NOT JUST THIS YEAR BUT WILL APPLY INCREASINGLY BETWEEN NOW AND 1997, ARE AS FOLLOWS:
(A) OTHER THAN AT SEA, THE GENERAL PERCEPTION IS THAT THE GARRISON NOW DOES VERY LITTLE FOR HONG KONG. WE USED THE ARGUMENT WITH LEGCO, WHEN THE POLICE AND AUXILIARY AIRFORCE WERE BEING EXPANDED TO TAKE OVER ON THE BORDER, THAT THE GARRISON WOULD BE ABLE TO SHRINK. LEGCO MEMBERS NOW EXPECT IT TO.
(B) AS HONG KONG PREPARES FOR ITS NEW SOVEREIGN, SPENDING ON FORCES WHICH MANY NATURALLY EQUATE WITH DEFENCE AGAINST CHINA IS
NOT GOING TO WIN SYMPATHETIC HEARING.
(C) AFTER 1997, CHINA HAS UNDERTAKEN IN THE JOINT DECLARATION TO PAY FOR ALL MILITARY FORCES WHICH IT SENDS TO HONG KONG. HONG KONG WILL MAKE NO CONTRIBUTION. CONTRASTS WITH THE PRE-1997
SITUATION ARE INEVITABLY MADE.
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