TNAG-0060-FCO40-96-Strength-of-Hong-Kong-garrison-1968 — Page 210

UK EYES ONLY

TOP SECRET

ANNEX A to DP 9/68(C

Preliminary Draft (Continued)

b. A mixed garrison, accompanied, comprising British and

Gurkha units as follows:

73 (Four Gurkha battalions; 34 British units)

6 (Three Gurkha battalions; 3 British units)

5% (Two Gurkha battalions; 33 British units)

Royal Navy and Royal Air Force compnents of the garrison

are as indicated in the paper. The Royal Air Force fighter

element if based in the colony should be taken as six Hunter

aircrafty.

CONCLUSIONS

Kereta control WORK, TE

46. We conclude that:

a.

At a time when we are withdrawing our forces from the

Persian Gulf, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei any reduction

in the size of our forces in Hong Kong would seriously

affect confidence in the colony by casting doubt upon

HM Governments' intentions towards the colony.

Despite the present lull in confrontation tactics

we can discern no change in Chinese long term intentions

of their desire to take over control of the colony. The

threat to the internal security of the colony, coupled with

the ability of the Chinese to aggravate the situation on

the border, has in no sense diminished and we see no

reason to change our previous assessment that the minimum

land force element of the garrison, based on the military

requirement, must remain at 63 major units.

c.

In the event of an emergency, the permanent garrison

of 63 major units may have to be reinforced from the

United Kingdom with up to four battalions. We recognise

that, providing sufficient warning of a deteriorating

situation is received, there is no requirement to maintain

the garrison permanently at 7 major units, since we have

the ability to deploy an immediate reinforcement battalion

TOP SECRET

UK EYES ONLY

{

855286

Page 210Page 211