LOOSE MINUTE
D/Sec (0) (C) 6/7
14 May 1993
DO (FEW)
DMO
DASD
Head of RP (Army)
SECRET
HKA 063/1.
ра
17 MAY 1993
DESK U
Adion Tum
Head of GF
RP (Centre)
HQBF Hong Kong (by secure fax)
FCO (Hong Kong Dept) (by flash tube)
copy to: ACDS (0)
AUS (C)
AUS (GF)
Head of Sec (0) (C)
COSSEC
HONG KONG: THE FUTURE OF THE GARRISON
58
1. Most of you will have seen Head of Sec(0) (C)'s note to the Secretary of State of 7 Máy, charting a way ahead on the proposal more rapid run down of the Hong Kong garrison than that envisaged in current withdrawal plan. The Secretary of State has sent the message, more or less as drafted, to the Governor, and we understand that the Governor is likely to respond very soon and positively.
2. The way is now clear to produce an paper for Ministers to consider in OPD (K) and I attach a first draft for comment and contributions. In doing so, you might like to take into account the following:
3.
a. the paper will be a joint one by the Foreign and Defence Secretaries.
b. it takes as an assumption that we get formal clearance for the deployment of a Gurkha battalion from Hong Kong to Belize from October 93 to March 94.
c. could I ask the FCO to provide appropriate text on the political implications; HQBF Hong Kong in conjunction with GF to provide Annex B and the figures for para 11; and RP(Centre and RP (Army) to provide the figures for para 12.
I am afraid that, as ever,
as ever, time is short. I must ask for replies to this by close of play on Tuesday 18 May. I would then aim, by the middle of next week, to circulate a complete draft at 2 star level, which would include the Hong Kong government and be copied to the COS. After that, I propose that the draft be cleared formally by the COS before being submitted to the
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