97499 St.S
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
TOP SECRET
109
Registry
No. HWB 10/9
Top Secret. Secret.
Confidential.
Restricted.
Unclassified.
DRAFT Letter
To:
The Rt. Hon. Denis
Healey, MBE, M. P.,
Secretary of State
for Defence.
Type 1 +
From
Secretary of State
Telephone No. & Ext.
Department
(Flage)
(Filegt)
The question whether fighter aircraft
should once again be permanently stationed
in Hong Kong has, I believe, recently
arisen in connection with the forthcoming study
of the defence of the Colony in the long term.
I understand that the Air Force Department
have been asked to examine this matter, having
regard to Commonwealth Office views.
2.
The Governor of Hong Kong feels strongly
that there should be a permanent fighter
presence in Hong Kong (his views are, I believe,
shared by the Commander, British Forces,
Hong Kong). He raised it with Malcolm
The latter's koji
to
Shepherd during the visit of the Colony last
ん
October; he subsequently set out his case in
his Saving Despatch No. 709 of 27 December,
1967, which has since been circulated to the
Chiefs of Staff; and he has just written to
us again on the subject (we have sent a copy of
his letter to your officials).
3.
I take it that there is to be no change
for the present in the policy of arranging
frequent visits of fighters from Singapore.
If that is the case, I do not feel too worried
about the immediate future. But I am concerned
about the position after withdrawal of our
forces from Sin apore and the likelihood that
some time before that withdrawal is completed
it will not be possible for fighter aircraft
to visit Hong Kong.
14.
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