TNAG-0059-FCO40-95-Strength-of-Hong-Kong-garrison-1968 — Page 102

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DP Note 27/67(A)

(Flimsy Draft (Continued)

d. Morale and Welfare of the Army. Any form of

separation, unless it is unavoidable, duc to operations

or the lack of acceptable accommodation and supporting

services, is to be deplored. Effects of the proposal

on recruiting and prolongation of service are hard to

assess, but the effects of unaccompanied tours on the

families left behind are woll known. It would be invidious

for British teeth units in the New Territories to be un-

accompanied, while Gurkha units in the same area remained

accompanied, as would British units on the Island and also

"trickle-posted" units. There is a danger that acceptance

of the principle of unaccompanied tours in Hong Kong may

be seized upon as a precedent to be applied more easily

elsewhere, and, apart from this, it may become difficult

later to reintroduce accompanied tours in Hong Kong.

e. Quartering in Hong Kong. If the garrison is to be

permanently increased by one major unit, new barrack

accommodation in Hong Kong will be essential. A complete

barracks would cost up to one million pounds and is unlikely

to be completed in less than three years. Alternatively,

it may be necessary to review the agreement to release the

Whitfield Barracks site to the Hong Kong Government,

currently planned to take place in January 1968. However, if unaccompanied troops were to relieve the Gurkhas in the

mid-Seventies, there would be considerable saving in the

provision of Married Quarters, schools and amenities,

amounting to some 43 million pounds on current long term

costings.

f. Quartering in UK. If the garrison were to be

progressively put on an unaccompanied basis, the necessary

rehousing of families would create a large problem, as

quarters would have to be found for the familics of

relieving units, and in view of the fact that the first

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