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DP Note 27/67(Continued)
celebrations in October 1967. The Commander-in-Chief has planned to retain until January 1968 both the extra battalion and six RAF helicopters which he also recently deployed to Hong Kong as an emergency measure.
5.
Commander-in-Chief's Views. The Commander-in-Chief states that the Governor of Hong Kong now considers it possible that the extra reinforcing battalion could be needed throughout 1968.
6. Comment. If the Governor requires an extra battalion throughout 1968 one can be provided. If, however, the commitment off Aden continues into 1968, this will place a certain degree of overstretch on Far East land forces, unless reinforced.
ARMY LONGER TERM PLANNING ISSUES
Strength of the Garrison 1970 Onwards
7. Background. The most recent examination (7) of forces required for the garrison was made in 1966 (before the onset of the present troubles in the Colony), when you concluded that the permanent army garrison required was 63 major units. You further concluded that the two military tasks, frontier operations and internal security, are interdependent and complementary, and any weakening of our ability to control the frontier could lead to an aggravation of the internal security situation. The size of the minimum land force garrison assumed the retention of a future reinforcement capability of at least one battalion. You recognised that, after October 1968, the reinforcing unit might have to come from the United Kingdom and could take five days including 72 hours warning time.
8. Commander-in-Chief's Views. The Commander-in-Chief states that Far East Command will no longer have battalions available either for roulement or for rapid reinforcement unless a Commando is kept permanently available for this task. He recommends, and the Governor agrees, that from 1970 onwards the Garrison should be permanently raised to a strength of 73 major units by rotating an 1 unaccompanied battalion from the United Kingdom on a six to nine month tour.
9. Comment. You may wish to establish the size of the land force component of the garrison in the 1970s in the light of the situation at the time. We could, until approximately 1972, cover this extra unaccompanied commitment within our planned force levels.
Unaccompanied Service
10.
Commander-in-Chief's Views. By the mid-Seventies the Gurkha rundown will be complete and the Hong Kong garrison will consist of United Kingdom troops only. The Commander-in-Chief, in looking at the longer term future, considers that the bulk of these troops must be unaccompanied on the grounds that, in the event of internal
security troubles, families in such numbers would not be acceptable. He further states that he supports the recommen- dation of both the Governor and the Commander British Forces Hong Kong that from henceforth, as the reliefs of combat units take place, they should change to unaccompanied tours, although the battalion on Hong Kong Island and the static units and headquarters would remain accompanied. The Governor does not envisage that
such a policy would affect the confidence of the Colony if it was introduced in this manner.
Note:
7. COS 119/66
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