XN000022-1985-09-27 — Page 9

FRIDAY, SEPTIMBER 27, 1985

- 8

+CONSIDERABLE FINANCIAL SAVINGS WILL RESULT FROM THESE DECISIONS. THE WORK THAT HAS ALREADY TAKEN PLACE ON THE KOHIMA SITE AT A COST OF $100 MILLION WILL NOT BE WASTED AS IT CAN BE USED FOR OTHER FORMS OF DEVELOPMENT. PLANS FOR THE FUTURE USE OF THE KOHIMA SITE HAVE YET TO BE FINALISED. THE LYEMUN BARRACKS SITE IS TO BE USED FOR A VARIETY OF PURPOSES INCLUDING THE NEXT PHASE OF THE ISLAND EASTERN CORRIDOR, PUBLIC HOUSING AND PUBLIC OPEN SPACE.

+THE DECISION HAS ONLY BEEN TAKEN AFTER DETAILED STUDY

AGTARATONA

AND CONSULTATION WITH ALL THOSE CONCERNED. THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN INFORMED. THIS DECISION ALSO HAS NO LONG TERM IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FUTURE OF THE GARRISON AS A WHOLE, WHICH WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE IN HONG KONG AT AN APPROPRIATE STRENGTH UNTIL 1997,

SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE

NOTE TO EDITORS:

THE FOLLOWING IS THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE PRESS RELEASE ISSUED TODAY ON THE FORCE REDUCTION:

+HONG KONG STABILITY PERMITS FORCE REDUCTION+

+CONFIDENCE IN THE CONTINUED STABILITY OF HONG KONG AND AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION SITUATION WILL PERMIT FORCE LEVELS IN THE TERRITORY TO BE REDUCED BY ONE BATTALION IN 1987.

+WITH THE AGREEMENT OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, THE 2ND BATTALION, 7TH GURKHA RIFLES FORMED IN 1980 AS A TEMPORARY MEASURE - WILL BE DISBANDED.

+THIS DECISION MEANS THAT A PLANNED NEW BARRACKS (KOHIMA) WILL NOT NOW BE BUILT AND AN OLD BARRACKS AT LYEMUN WILL NO LONGER BE REQUIRED - WITH CONSEQUENT FINANCIAL SAVINGS.

+THE 2ND BATTALION, 7TH GURKHA RIFLES WAS NOT ESTABLISHED AT THE SAME FORCE LEVEL AS OTHER GURKHA BATTALIONS AND IT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO DISBAND IT WITHOUT ENFORCED REDUNDANCIES BY NATURAL WASTAGE, DEPLOYMENT TO OTHER UNITS AND SOME VOLUNTARY REDUNDANCY.

+RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFENCE AND INTERNAL SECURITY OF HONG KONG REMAINS WITH THE BRITISH UNTIL 1997- THERE ARE CURRENTLY ONE BRITISH AND FOUR GURKHA INFANTRY BATTALIONS STATIONED THERE.

+THE DISBANDMENT OF THIS BATTALION WILL HAVE NO EFFECT ON THE LONG TERM VIABILITY OF THE BRIGADE OF GURKHAS. THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE, MR MICHAEL HESELTINE MP, SAID TODAY ..... 'I INTEND THAT THERE SHALL BE A CONTINUING ROLE FOR THE GURKHAS AFTER 1997 WITHIN THE BRITISH ARMY'. THE FINAL SIZE AND SHAPE OF THE GURKHAS WILL TURN ON OPERATIONAL AND RESOURCE FACTORS FACING THE ENTIRE BRITISH ARMY AT THE TIME, WHICH IS TOO EARLY TO FORESEE AT THIS STAGE.+

19