XN000022-1975-12-19 — Page 22

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13.

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COMMENT ON THE DEFENCE COSTS AGREEMENT BY

COMMANDER BRITISH FORCES

I am very pleased that the new Defence Costs Agreement has been

concluded which ensures that a first class professional garrison

will continue to serve Hong Kong. The new garrison, with elements

of all three Services in it, and containing both British and Gurkha

troops, will be tailor-made to meet Hong Kong's security needs and

will be fully capable of carrying out its main roles of supporting

the Royal Hong Kong Police Force along the border, in coastal waters

and in any possible internal security situation! And of course ite

presence emphasizes Britain's continuing commitment to Hong King in the

future.

In some ways, this has not been an easy time for the Armed Forces. The

negotiations have been tough and protracted. At a time when money is

short, people in Hong Kong understandably have been dismayed at the prospect

of having to pay more for defence. In these circumstances it is only

natural that the whole question of the need for a British garrison has

been raised. In the course of argument the British Forces have come

in for a good deal of comment, some of which has been quite unconnected with

the immediate issues under discussion.

The major issue the need for the garrison

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has in fact been

the subject of a most detailed and comprehensive examination by the British

and Hong Kong Governments,and I am sure that the community here will now

confidently accept the decision, embodied in this agreement, that there is

a continuing need for a viable British garrison.

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