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ANNEX A to DP 9/68(C) (Directors Draft (Continued)
intention to maintain a military presence in the Colony.
RATIONALE FOR FUTURE FORCE LEVELS
Royal Navy.
18.
The requirement already established to keep one frigate
permanent ly in Hong Kong will have to be met from the Western
Fleet, after the withdrawal of the Far East Fleet from Singapore.
Owing to the increased length of passage time, the reinforcement
required in times of tension can only be met if a second frigate
remains within a few days steaming of Hong Kong. One of these
hay
frigages wiT also continue to be declared to the United Nations
Command Korea; this commitment is currently under review by
political departments.
The further requirement to keep two MCM
vessels at operational readiness, together with two further MCM
vessels available in times of tension, can only be met by basing
them on Hong Kong.
19. With the loss of Singapore based fleet maintenance and
logistic facilities the following increases will be required in
Hong Kong:
20.
a. A small increase in personnel and stores in HMS TAMAR.
7.
The provision of one small tanker to guard against the
loss of commercial shore fuel facilities through strike
action or subversion and to support the UN command frigate
if deployed.
Our minimum force requirements are therefore summarised as:
a.
Two frigates. One as guardship (also declared ship
to United Nations Command in South Korea), one as rotnforcement.
10.
Five MCM vessels. Two at operational readiness for
patrol; two as reinforcement;
one undergoing maintenance.
C.
One small tanker/ship.
d.
HMS TAMAR. Small increase in base facilities.
A 8
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