TNAG-0060-FCO40-96-Strength-of-Hong-Kong-garrison-1968 — Page 149

UK EYES ONLY

SECRET

Part I to COS 16th Meeting/68 12th March 1968

HMS BULWARK and HMS ALBION at the end of March so long as

ey were still at five days notice or longer. It should noted that HMS ALBION would have to return to Singapore for maintenance by 25th May. The replacement of HMS ALBION by an LPD and LSL was impracticable. He considered that

so long as no CVI was included in the Task Force there was no need for control to be exercised by the Chiefs of Staff and considered that the Task Force Commander and HM Ambassador in Aden could make the necessary decisions, once the operation had been ordered.

In discussion, the following points were made:

It was agreed that the Commander-in-Chief, Far East, should have control of the Task Force until such time as an evacuation was ordered, at which time, control of the Task Force would pass to the Chiefs of Staff.

p. It was agreed that the Secretary of State should be briefed on the implications of maintaining forces for this commitment, at restricted notice, for an indefinite period.

Summing up, SIR CHARLES ELWORTHY said they would invite the Assistant Under-Secretary (Policy), in conjunction

with the Navy Department, to prepare a brief as in p. above for the Secretary of State.

The Committee:

(3) Agreed with the remarks of the Chief of the Defence Staff in his summing up.

SECRET

UK EYES ONLY