chex.ps/ob/46
SECRET
CELLOR OF
THE EXCHEQUER
H
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thro
Treasury Chambers, Parliament Street, London, SW1P 3AG
LETTER UMBER:
103948
PRIME MINISTER
071-270 5000
HICA 063/1
RECEIVED BE
10 AUG 1993
HIND
CPS
Marshall,
19/1
(SL
داول
Ps/Mr Goodlad PSIPUS
Chig Clerk
FED
DESK OFFICER INDEX
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PA
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Sir J. Coles Mr tuuni
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RPO NODD Planners
NEWS
Mr Frener
HONG KONG: THE FUTURE OF THE BRITISH GARRISON
8/11417
I am content with Malcolm Rifkind's proposals for an announcement on 19 July, to the effect that the Hong Kong garrison will be reduced to 1 battalion by the merger of the 2 Gurkha battalions
and the withdrawal of 1 Black Watch to the UK.
I am able to agree to this announcement because it does not
prejudice the decision we have yet to take on precisely which battalions will form the garrison after September 1994. I am glad that Malcolm is prepared to cost the alternative of disbanding the Gurkha battalions early, and I look forward to further advice from officials in due course.
But unless that option offers us a net saving over existing plans, I will want to return to the option of disbanding a UK regiment. As I made clear in my earlier letter, it is not acceptable for the
Hong Kong Government to make savings through changes to plans
which increase costs for the UK Government. We can revisit this
once we have advice from officials, which I would like to include
the costs of this other alternative. However, I do not think this need affect Malcolm's proposed announcement, which covers current plans.