2600027
C.S. 20A
SAWING PESATCH
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From the Governor, Hong Kong
Commonwealth Affairs.
To the Secretary of State for exxoEDIES
104
Repeated to:
K
Repeated to:-
Il send a
は
Date...
२५.
December, 1967.
No. 109
No.
My Reference..... TSX 1/54.
this to MCH. Here, $s.ll, M.C.D
Your Reference. And comps sey...
"Ther
No.
Copy sent to
M.O.D. (Henn)
311
FIGHTERS FOR HONG KONG.
ING
5.1.68.
R. 104
A Bok
Dervesen
in
Любя.
SPECIAL
1.
When the Commander-in-Chief, Far East, visited Hong Kong
in October, both the Commander British Forces and I drew his special attention to the undesirability of leaving Hong Kong without a fighter presence. This arose particularly in the context of the increasing difficulties in maintaining, with the new generation of fighters, the regular visits at present carried out by Javelins and Hunters.
2.
After his visit to London at the end of October, the Commander- in-Chief, Far East informed me that, although the Chief of the Defence Staff and the Chief of the Air Staff did not react favourably to the suggestion that fighters should again be stationed in Hong Kong permanently, the Ministry of Defence (Air) would examine the problem.
3.
I am aware of the military arguments against having fighters here; nevertheless I would like to set out my own reasons for believing that, in spite of these, every effort should be made to keep a fighter presence here.
4.
Confidence. A fighter presence in Hong Kong is a visible commitment by the United Kingdom in support of the Colony, and this is evidence which sustains confidence in Her Majesty's Government's intention to maintain its position here. If we were denied this presence, it would be interpreted as an abandonment of a degree of United Kingdom support and weakening of this intention.
5.
Practicability of Interception.
I am aware that, in practice, defending fighter aircraft would have little or no chance of carrying out interceptions in Colony air space. I know, too, that it has been argued in the past that even if interceptions could be made, the few fighters which we had would easily be overwhelmed. Nevertheless, I believe that the absence of fighters cannot but provide a strong and continual temptation to the CPG to fly over the Colony, and possibly to make leaflet raids, as a means of applying pressure and of demonstrating their support for their "compatriots". It also seems to me that there is a great difference between a situation in which any Chinese aircraft could cruise in Hong Kong
R.104
Pl. attack previous
eltach
Volumar
/air
ANG
68.
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