1
SECRETARY
MON
OF
STATE
*COPY NO.ON OF
17 COPIES
PAGE NO.1 OF
2 PAGES
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
MAIN BUILDING, WHITEHALL, LONDON, S.W.I
(114)
23
TOP SECRET
TELEPHONE
01-930 7022
tu 26.4.68.
(Carma's vist)
RECEIVED IN COMMONWEALTH
*
4 APR 1968
3 SECRETARY'S OFFICE
MO. 5/14
R. 104.
RaR.
любо Dear George
68.
4th April, 1968
от
*/in
1) An Baghty 2) Su A. Galouently
MR. Carter
Mr. Ganymara
FIGHTER AIRCRAFT FOR HONG KONG
109
Thank you for your letter of 27th March about fighter aircraft for Hong Kong.
2.
I confirm that the paper which my staff are preparing for the DOPC will take account of your view that, in order to prevent intrusion and maintain morale in the colony, there should be a permanent fighter presence in Hong Kong after 1971. As you may have seen, the Chiefs of Staff have recently been considering what permanent garrison we shall need in Hong Kong after the withdrawal from Singapore and have come to the firm conclusion that from the military point of view there is no justification for the permanent stationing of fighter aircraft there. It would be practicable to base a small force of Hunters in the colony till the mid-1970s, but there would be no military justification for meeting the cost from defence
votes.
3.
Our paper for the DOPC will of course bring out these points and will focus the issues on which final decisions will have to be taken by the Committee. Meanwhile, however, it may be useful if I comment now on the two supplementary arguments in favour of a permanent fighter presence mentioned at the end of your letter.
4.
The first is the argument that if we leave ourselves without a small force of fighter aircraft permanently on the spot, we may find that in a time of deteriorating relations
/with
SPECIAL CARE
The Rt. Hon. George Thomson, MP,
- 5 APR 1968
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.