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Far East theatre by reinforcement.
By 1975-76 forces of all three
The
Services would have been withdrawn from Singapore and Malaysia. forces to be maintained in Australia, using Australian facilities (on the assumption that the Australians would welcome this course), would be
limited to very small naval forces (it would be for decision later whether there should be an amphibious component) and a very small number of
aircraft. There would be no land forces. Units of all three Services
based in the United Kingdom would carry out annually a number of exercises
in Australia. Forces in Hong Kong would need to be on a more self-
contained basis.
7.
Perhaps the most useful way of illustrating the extent of the
reductions of our forces in Singapore and Malaysia by 1970-71 and by 1975-76 is to use manpower as a yardstick. Very approximate figures (rounded) of the effect by 1970-71 and 1975-76 are set out below:-
Malaysia and Singapore. Approximate Manpower Strengths
at 1st April 1967
(approximate figures on a roughly comparable basis are given in brackets for April 196
Locally
British Servicemen
UK
Gurkhas Enlisted
Civilians
Personnel
Locally Engaged Civilians
Total
33,000
(28,000)
10,000
5,500
(10,000) (6,500)
1,500 (1,500)
30,000 (30,000)
80,000 (76,000)
To achieve reductions of about a half by 1970-71 would roughly
involve the following withdrawals (of British forces and United Kingdom civilians) and dismissals:-
Singapore
10,000
2,500 3,000
1,000
12,000
28,500
Malaysia
5,000
2,500
1,000
5,000
13,500
TOTAL
15,000
5,000
4,000
1,000
17,000
42,000
This will leave the following numbers to be withdrawn or dismissed between 1970-71 and 1975-76:-
18,000
5,000 1,500
500
13,000
38,000
To the figures of locally engaged civilians should be added the local employees of the Ministry of Public Building and Works, who number at present about 4,500; no estinate has yet been made of their rate of rundown.
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