Your Ref: D/SEC(O) (C) 6/7
Our Ref:
Date: 28 May 1993
SECRET
Foreign & Commonwealth
Office
HKA 063/1.
London SW1A 2AH
Telephone: 071-
270-2650
BY FLASH TUBE
NDEX
D Bowen Esq
SEC (O) (C)
Room 5314
Main Building MOD
Rea Dand
HONG KONG: FUTURE OF THE GARRISON
1.
As discussed with Martin Howard, we have shown the Governor, on a personal basis, the draft OPD (K) paper on the future of the garrison which has been submitted to Chiefs of Staff. The Governor is generally content with the paper and supports its recommendations.
2.
He is however concerned about the reference in para 3 of the paper to Hong Kong being in breach of the DCA. HKG maintain that payment was deferred while questions about the costs were raised. These questions have now been answered and payment made. His personal adviser suggests amending the penultimate sentence of the paragraph to read "( he ruled out approaching LegCo for additional funding to cover unexpected additional costs under the DCA IN 1992-93)".
The
3. I wonder whether this point need be made at all. paper already makes clear the LegCo dimension. The question of whether HKG was in breach of the DCA, although important,
I does not effect an OPD (K) decision on the withdrawal. would suggest that you might like to consider deleting the bracketted sentence.
4. In addition Hong Kong have pointed out that the current strength of the RHKP has 12 PTUS including the four at the border, and with full mobilisation would have 31 including the four at the border. I understand that you will be able to amend the current draft to reflect this without too much difficulty.
You ever had
RAJ Bunten
SECRET
79