TOP SECRET
1 62
ļ
CYPHER/CAT A
IMMEDIATE
COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TO HONG KONG (D.T.D.)
TELNO 2324 15 NOVEMBER, 1967
TOP SECRET.
HONG KONG GARRISON.
(HWB.10/9)
THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE ARE NOW CONSIDERING THE QUESTION WHETHER HONG KONG GARRISON SHOULD REMAIN ON ACCOMPANIED BASIS OR SHOULD GRADUALLY CHANGE TO UNACCOMPANIED TOURS. CONCLUSION IS UNLIKELY TO BE REACHED UNTIL NEW YEAR BUT MEANWHILE AN AD HOC DECISION WILL BE REQUIRED IN CONNECTION WITH REPLACEMENT FOR 1 WELCH BATTALION WHICH IS DUE TO BE RELIEVED IN JUNE, 1968
BY BATTALION FROM U.K.
2. WE UNDERSTAND YOU CONSIDER THAT HENCEFORTH AS RELIEFS OF COMBAT UNITS TAKE PLACE THEY SHOULD CHANGE TO UNACCOMPANIED BASIS, ALTHOUGH BATTALION ON HONG KONG ISLAND AND STATIC AND HEADQUARTERS UNITS WOULD REMAIN ACCOMPANIED. UNACCOMPANIED POSTINGS REQUIRE SIX MONTHS NOTICE TO BE GIVEN TO TROOPS AND IF RELIEF FOR 1 WEL CH BATTALION IS TO BE ON UNACCOMPANIED BASIS, THE FACT IS LIKELY TO BECOME GENERALLY KNOWN AT ANY TIME FROM MID- DECEMBER ONWARDS. GRATEFUL TO LEARN WHETHER IN PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES YOU NEVERTHELESS CONSIDER THAT THEIR RELIEF SHOULD BE ON UNACCOMPANIED BASIS AND WHETHER YOU ARE SATISFIED THAT CHANGE AT THIS STAGE WOULD HAVE NO UNTOWARD EFFECTS ON CONFIDENCE OR MORALE IN HONG KONG.
128)
3. THERE MAY BE OTHER CONSIDERATIONS WHICH MIGHT CAUSE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE TO SEND RELIEF BATTALION IN JUNE ON ACCOMPANIED BASIS IN ANY EVENT: BUT IT WOULD BE MOST HELPFUL IF WE COULD HAVE YOUR VIEWS ON PARAGRAPH 2 ABOVE.
CROSEC
FILES
HONG KONG DEPT.
TOP SECRET
Page 60Page 61
Registry No.
DEPARTMENT
HW.B. 10/9.
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION PRIORITY MARKINGS
Top Secret Secret
Confidential
Restricted
Unclassified
Flash
____ Immediate Priority Routine
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