File No. DEF.75/51/02
Page 226
2014
Mr Campbell 2/58.
Mr. Wallace away.
Permt. U.S. of S.
Mr.... Melville.
4/3
Parly. U.S. of S.
Mr. Carstairs...............
Minister of State
Sir
Secretary of State
Your Reference..
Date.
DRAFT BRIEF FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE
Ани А
B
(202)
FURTHER ACTION,
action ad
(201).
TOP SECRET
Define committee. Feb 5th
ARTILLERY UNITS HONG KONG
BACKGROUND
The need for an early decision about the two
extra artillery units for Hong Kong arises because the
present artillery regiment (the 74th Light Anti-Aircraft)
is surplus to the long-term garrison of six major units
(i.e., 4 infantry battalions, 1 artillery regiment and 1
armoured regiment), and finishes its tour of duty in March
of this year.
We cannot prevent it going (indeed, as is
clear from paragraph 5 of D(58)1, its departure in March
has already been authorised), and our objective must be
that at the time of its departure we shall be in a position
to announce that it is being replaced by one or two other
Although it will take five months for the replace-
ment to arrive, the blow to local confidence involved in its
withdrawal without prospect of replacement would thereby be
lessened. And local confidence is the basis of the
maintenance of our position in Hong Kong.
2.
units.
The six major units contemplated are not adequate
Annex A
to fulfil the directive of the Commander, British Forces.
After the 1956 riots he assessed his requirement at 9 major
units plus a Venom squadron (the Governor's support of this
requirement was brought out at the meeting of Defence
Page 226
(P7785) 59816/7301 1MP 12/56 (P8088) 71431/7382 1MP 5/57 AT&S. 768
/Committee
Page 226