TNAG-0059-FCO40-95-Strength-of-Hong-Kong-garrison-1968 — Page 26

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YO

COS 1081/2/2/68

Copy No

Chief of the Defence Staff Chief of the Naval Staff Chief of the General Staff Chief of the Air Staff

Copy to:

420

of 105 copies19)

Ministry of Defence

2nd February 1968

Mr R... Sykes, Foreign Office Major-General J.M. McNeill,

Commonwealth Office

PS/S of S

Sec JIC

DUS (P)

DUS (PL)

AUS P & B)

AUS (Pol)

риба

I. Gammond!

DS 1

DS 11

DS 22

COS Restricted List

FIGHTER AIRCRAFT FOR HONG KONG

1. I attach at annex A a copy of a telegram from the Governor of Hong Kong to the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs › in which the Governor sets out his case for a permanent fighter aircraft presence in the Colony.

2.

This proposal was first raised by the Commander-in-Chief, Far East (1), at the request of the Governor and the Commander British Forces, Hong Kong, in October 1967. The proposal was examined by the Defence Planning Staff who reported (2) that although there was no military value in having fighter aircraft in Hong Kong, there could, on occasions, be overriding political reasons for deploying them there for short periods.

3. I have invited the Air Force Department to re-examine the implications of permanently stationing fighter aircraft in Hong Kong, taking into account the Commonwealth Office views.

44.

R. 104

The results of this examination will be made available to the Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Policy) in the preparation of the paper (3) on the long term policy for Hong Kong which is to include the size of the Hong Kong garrison.

R&R p. मिलन

9.·、,

68.

Annex: A.

Notes:

1. 2.

3.

J.H.

Gibbon Major-General Secretary

Chiefs of Staff Committee

Savingram No 709 Governor of Hong Kong to Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs. (2 pages)

SEACOS 153.

DP Note 27/67

(59

COS 1074/1/2/68 Annex A Study No 156.

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