TNAG-0060-FCO40-96-Strength-of-Hong-Kong-garrison-1968 — Page 50

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ANNEX A TO COS 23/68

Continued)

7. Furthermore, if we are to continue to implement our present policy to expose as an act of aggression any Chinese incursion into the Colony by armed force, it is necessary to provide a screen on the frontier composed of all arms. This must be strong enough to identify overt aggression, by making Chinese forces crossing the frontier deploy and carry out co-ordinated military attacks.

8. Our most recent examination (6) of forces required for the garrison was made in 1966, before the recent emergency/in the Colony. We then concluded that the permanent Army garrison required was 6 major units, of which at least two battalions should be British. The tasks for these forces were as follows:

a.

Internal security duties in the New Territories

and external defence on the frontier: two infantry

battalions and 13 supporting units, comprising one light regiment, one armoured car squadron, and one engineer squadron.

70

AJ

expansion

L

Internal security duties in Kowloon: two infantry battalions.

9.

C.

Internal security duties on Hong Kong Island: one infantry battalion.

Following our meeting (7) with the Governor Hong Kong in June 1967, and in response to a signal (8) from the Commander- in-Chief Far East, we agreed, as a temporary measure, to reinforce the garrison with an extra battalion to control the situation on the border. This was agreed by Political Departments and brought the total strength of the garrison to 7 major units, which has since remained unchanged.

10.

Subsequently, the Commander-in-Chief reviewed (9) his concept of operations on the basis that, if the internal security situation again deteriorated at the same time as events on the border required the deployment of strong forces, the normal garrison of 63 major units might require reinforcement by up to four infantry battalions, making a total of 10 major units to maintain control of the Colony.

Notes:

COS 119/66.

6•

7.

COS 53rd Mtg/67.

8.

9.

CINCFE 27/09072 June 1967.

CINCFE 2944/6090/16 dated 21 Jul 67.

A - 4

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