TNAG-0059-FCO40-95-Strength-of-Hong-Kong-garrison-1968 — Page 37

SECRET

Category AC: no unclassified reply or reference.

н.с. Вра

(71

SECRET

From:

CINCFE

To

MOD UK

Info:

CBF Hong Kong

COMFEF

HQ FARELF

HQ FEAF

0407152 January

Date: 4.1.68

Recd:

14092

R.104

Rak.

8.668.

WARNING

PARAPHRASE NOT REQUIRED

NO UNCLASSIFIED REPLY OR REFERENCE

RTT/SEACOS 3

For CDS, CBF and Service Commanders.

SZA

SPECIAL CARE

3 JAN1968

Ref A.

Ref B. Ref C. Ref D.

RTT/090510Z Oct/SEACCS 153 cos 75th MTG/67 (Annex). COS 49/66

NOTAL

TLL/1419102 Dec/COSSEA 118

In ref A. I informed you that I had agreed Governors request to retain extra battalion and 6 Whirlwinds in Hong Kong until early Jan 68, at which time I would review the short term situation.

2.

CBF Hong Kong in consultation with Governor has reviewed position there and stated that if things continue to quieten down he should be able to reduce army strength on the border gradually and possibly make some reduction in internal tasks. Although he feels that it is too early to be certain that situation will remain quiet he considers that we should plan on possibility that 2/10 GR will leave Hong Kong withough relief, but prefers to delay a final decision until last week of January e

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Current intelligence suggests that China wants Hong Kong situation to become more peaceful. Cultural revolution in China is Present indications seem not at same destructive stage as in 1967.

I consider that

to promise something more than a brief tactical lull. it should soon be possible to reduce army garrison in Hong Kong to its

With this in mind I normal strength of 6 and two third major units. propose that 2/10 GR should be withdrawn by 10th February without relief, subject to final review on 22nd January 1968. 3 days before sea tail

Thereafter plan NOUGAT 1X of relieving battalion would have to embark. will permit reinforcement with a battalion using FEAF Hercules aircraft well within 72 hours in normal circumstances and within 48 hours if we have warning of a redeveloping threat.

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Because of this,

In reference D. we were asked to examine possibility of keeping a Gurkha battalion in Brunei after August 1968. and because it is still too early to foresee how events will develop in Hong Kong later this year, I recommend that we should not at this stage cancel the emergency tour in Hong Kong of a UK based battalion from August to November 1968 (reference B). Furthermore the availability of this battalion for Hong Kong would defer to mid-1969 the date when we might have to use Commandos to meet commitment of an additional battalion in Hong Kong.

sulx

R, 10.4

bu 15.1.68 (vpn Mr Hann)

I attack the

reinforcement Man.

непрочит

ANG

SECRET

150