TNAG-0059-FCO40-95-Strength-of-Hong-Kong-garrison-1968 — Page 57

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21 November, 1967.

64

во

62/63)

Unecoomented Service in Hong Kong-

Will you please refer to your letter DS.11/6/7 of 6 November on the sbovo subject. You should by now have received copies of our tele gran No.2324 to Bong Kong and of liong Kong telegram No.1705 in reply.

The latter telegram sets out the position in a nutshell and we do not disagree with any of the arguments and views expressed by the Governor. Our answers to the questions posed in your third paragraph

BrO I -

Yea

(a) (b) No

(c) No

but these answers should be read in the context of bong Kong telegram No.1705.

As regards the immediate problem of the relief battalion due to go out as a relief next June, it seems to us that from liong Kong'a point of view the balance of advantage lies in the relief being provided on an unaccompanied basis. The point made in paragraph 1 (4) of the telegram must always be borne in mind; and if for other reasons it were later decided to provide subsequent reliefs on an accompanied basis, this should present no political problem although it might well present an 20commodation problem which will exist in any event.

I am copying this letter to Filson (Far Eastern Department, Foreign Office) and Campbell (Defence Department, Com onwealth Office), also Gray (Defence Department Foreign Office).

ми

C.. Henn

aq,

Ministry of Defence,

bitehall, S..1.

(A.". GAMINARA).

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