TNAG-0059-FCO40-95-Strength-of-Hong-Kong-garrison-1968 — Page 8

Mr.

Carter

Reference..

The matter of maintaining a permanent fighter aircraft presence in Hong Kong was the subject of minutes to the Minister Flags A and B early in December. At that time we understood that the Ministry

of Defence were unlikely to pursue the subject in the immediate future; the recommendation to the Minister was that it would be difficult then to get a reversal of the decision not to station a permanent fighter force in Hong Kong because this was tied up with the defence review and an attempt to reduce expenditure, particularly in view of the further problems which had arisen as a result of devaluation. The Minister agreed with this reasoning but asked to be kept informed of any developments.

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2.

The Commander-in-Chief, Far East, visited London at the end of October. On return to the Far East he informed the Governor of Hong Kong that although the Chief of 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 Air Force Department of the Ministry of Defence would examine the problem.

3. This prompted the Governor to put his views on paper in some detailo This he did in a Saving Despatch to us at the end of December. We sent a copy of the Despatch to the Ministry of Defence, with the result that copies of the Despatch have now//been circulated to the Chiefs of Staff.

4.

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We have now been informed by the Ministry of Defence that the Air Force Department has been invited to re-examine the implications of permanently stationing fighter aircraft in Hong Kong, taking into account the Commonwealth Office views. results of this examination will be made available in the preparation of a paper on the long-term policy for Hong Kong which will include the size of the Hong Kong garrison. We have accordingly been asked by the Ministry of Defence to let them have our considered views as soon as possible. In asking this, the Ministry have made it clear that they would be opposed to fighter aircraft being stationed in or attached to Hong Kong in the long- term, for various technical reasons. They do not rule out the possibility of the existence of overriding political reasons for deploying fighters to Hong Kong from time to time, but they state that if they are pressed hard on the matter, they would have to refer it to their Secretary of State, who would almost certainly not be favourably disposed to a long-term fighter presence in Hong Kong. They advise us, therefore, that if we wish to pursue this matter we shall have to be prepared to press our arguments very strongly and at the highest level. I think we should support the Governor whole-heartedly in this matter, although I do not rate our chances very highly. I have consulted Mr. D. Campbell of the Commonwealth Office Defence Department about the best method of handling our approach. His suggestion is that we could either approach the Ministry of Defence in the form of a letter from you to Mr. Moss (Head of DS8) or in the form of a letter from Mr. Hall to Mr. Charlton (Assistant Under Secretary in charge of ps8) or we could go straight out for a ministerial approach. Since the Ministry of Defence have made it quite clear to us that if we want to achieve our object, we shall have to go to Ministers, I suggest that there is little point in starting off at any lower level. I accordingly attach a draft letter for consideration: the draft is designed for signature by the Minister, if approved, and is addressed to Mr. Healey.

5.

You will note that so far as helicopters are concerned, the Air Force Department strongly endorse the recommendation of the Commander-in-Chief, Far East, that six R.A.F. helicopters should be established in Hong Kong.

This recommendation has gone

to the Chiefs of Staff.

A

(A.W. GAMINARA)

13 February 1968