Colonel A F MOGILL, OBE.
WHItehall 9400 Ext 776.
M02/61
Page 114
The War Office, (MO 2)
CONFIDENTIAL Whitehall,
London, S.W.+.
4 September, 1958
Move of 5 Field Regiment RA to HONG KONG
Further to our telephone conversation.
As you know Ministers in June of this year decided (D(58) 11th Meeting Item 4) that two Artillery regiments now in United Kingdom and destined eventually for the long term garrison in Malaya/Singapore, should be stationed temporarily in Hong Kong until such time as accommod- ation is available for them in Malaya/Singapore. The first of these
units, 5 Field Regiment RA, is due to leave the united Kingdom on 12th September and arrive in Hong Kong on 9th October.
In view of the present tension in the Far East and the feeling that the method and nature of the press release in Singapore on the temporary move of 1 LOYALS to Hong Kong could have been improved, I suggest that in this case the press release should first be cleared through the Foreign Office and Colonial Office to the Secretariat, Chiefs of Staff Committee who in turn should clear it with the BDCC(FE).
I suggest a suitable wording for the release might be as follows:-
"5 Field Regiment RA, which leaves the United Kingdom on 12 September on the EMPIRE FOWEY for Hong Kong, forms part of our permanent garrison in the Far East, and its move is a routine one, which has been planned for several months."
I suggest further that when the wording has been finally agreed there should be a simultaneous press announcement in Hong Kong, Singapore and the United Kingdom, released on the afternoon of 11 September, the day before the regiment embarks.
I am copying this letter to Hooper of the Foreign Office and Fairclough of the Colonial Office so that they can pass their comments on my suggestions and draft direct to you.
Captain D G Clutterbuck, RN.,
Deputy Secretary, Chiefs of Staff Committee,
Ministry of Defence,
Storey's Gate,
London, S.W.1.
(Sgd) A. F. McGILL
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