HONG KONG: FUTURE OF GARRISON: BULL POINTS
Garrison will need to be withdrawn totally by 30 June 1997.
Have already made some reductions. Intend to announce this afternoon broad plans for the phased withdrawal of the remainder.
Plans take into account security situation in and around Hong Kong and expanded capability of Hong Kong police to meet tasks previously carried out by military eg police now have full responsibility for patrolling the Sino-Hong Kong border.
-
Elements of all three services will remain till 1997.
a. Three RN patrol craft will stay.
b.
Black Watch will withdraw in about Sept 94. Two
remaining Gurkha battalions will merge at around the same
time to form 1 RGR. One battalion will remain in Hong Kong
thereafter. [If pressed] Current plans assume that resident
battalion will be Gurkha until late 1996 when it will be
replaced by a UK battalion on unaccompanied tour.
c. RAF aircraft will remain, but may reduce in numbers.
Overall size of the garrison will reduce to around 3000 from
current size of around 8700.
Plans drawn up in full consultation with Governor and are
intended to be flexible. He and we are satisfied they are
consistent with Hong Kong's security requirements. Chinese have been informed as have governments of Nepal and Brunei given their
interest in Brigade of Gurkhas. Plans for long term future of
Gurkhas are unchanged.
Stress this is result of long process of planning. Not a short
term measure to reduce overstretch. Our plans for future size of the Army assumed the disappearance of the Hong Kong commitment.
This announcement simply designed to fill in detail of how
withdrawal is to be effected.