CONFIDENTIAL
representatives, and Brig Vyvyan DCOS HQ UKLF, who is Chairman of the HQ UKLF HK Withdrawal Planning Group (which meets for the first time at Wilton on 20 Sep 93).
ITEM 2 - POLITICAL UPDATE
2. Hd HK Dept FCO took the need to achieve the agreement of China on continuity of electoral arrangements as his main theme. Achievement of the so-called "through train" was the only way to avoid a spread of corruption and abuse of power from China post - 1997. After nine sessions of talks with China there were some signs of progress beginning to be made. However, these
tentative. legislative reform were the principal obstacle to progress, and were affecting other issues, such as the new airport project. One area where the Chinese were being more positive was that of Defence Lands, where a real desire on the part of the Chinese to make progress was discernible.
were very
ITEM 3 HONG KONG VIEW
Difficulties
over
3. CBF HK stated that the last six months had been critical in setting the tone for the relationship between the Garrison, the HKG and the HK community in the run-up to 1997. The OPD (K) review represented a sensible compromise. Although the one battalion Garrison is a higher risk alternative viewed from a purely military standpoint, it had found favour in HK for a number of reasons:
a.
Capability.
It kept the Garrison robust in some of the most critical areas. These were protecting reinforcement, territorial integrity at sea (RN presence), and air mobility and SAR cover through the RAF presence.
b. Politically.
It enjoyed the enthusiastic backing of the Governor and support from HKG, with a sharply reduced overall cost to the HKG.
C. Presentationally. It helped silence those critics who were increasingly beginning to question the purpose of a large Garrison in the final few years.
d. Chinese Perspective. It had gained at least the implicit approval of China.
4. CBF HK went on to say that the Garrison had crossed a psychological watershed with the HK community, as they now know and accept that the Garrison will become substantially smaller in the final few years. However, the inevitable future
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