SECRET
BRIEF NO 22
FIVE POWER CONFERENCE ON FAR EAST DEFENCE
BRIEFS FOR UK DELEGATION
HONG KONG
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Speaking Brief (if raised)
We intend to meet our full responsibilities and obligations
to Hong Kong and its people and, as our Prime Minister said in
his statement on 16th January, there is no question of reducing
the strength or effectiveness of the Hong Kong garrison.
2. Indeed, our forces in the Colony will have to become more
self-sufficient, though we shall still be able to reinforce quickly
by air direct from the United Kingdom. There will therefore need
to be some modest increases. We have not yet decided precisely ghat these will be7.
Background
3. Fara levels, present and projected, are as follows:-
Present
Planned
RN
One frigate
Two MCMVs (on rotation
from Singapore)
Army
RAF
63 major units (temporarily
reinforcing Gurkha battalion
has just been withdrawn)
(2nd Bn, the Parachute Regiment,
will reinforce Hong Kong from
late July till after the "Double
Tenth")
Six helicopters
Two frigates (after 1971)
Five MCMVs (after 1969)
73 major units
(after 1971)
RAF Kai Tak and Tai Mo Shan
As now; (possibly) five
Hunters (after 1970)
As now
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