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in the past and could do so again in the future, and the prompt exercise of authority by the Governor in the deployment of security forces is of major importance in preventing the expansion and exploitation of such situations. With the police force barely able to keep pace with increased responsibilities arising from the growth and re-distribution of the population, the ready availability of the necessary forces will become even more important in the future. Timely reinforcement from this country cannot, as is explained in paragraph 5 above, be counted upon. Accordingly, the immediate reserve battalion should be available in the Colony once we reach the situation, probably in about the middle of 1971, in which we cannot provide it from Singapore or Malaysia.
Royal Air Force
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Six Whirlwind Helicopters. These were introduced last year, during the emergency, to improve tactical mobility. They have proved their worth, and are a necessary part of the long term garrison.
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RAF Kai Tak and Tai Mo Shan. The present staging, signals and radar facilities will be needed; the latter are of intelligence value to us and our allies.
We also need to consider whether there should be a permanent fighter presence in Hong Kong. There is no military justification for this. At present we rely on occasional visits by Hunters from Singapore, and in our view the require- ment could be met if necessary, after our withdrawal from Singapore and Malaysia, by similar visits by Phantoms from our general capability. But the Governor considers that a permanent fighter presence would deter incursions into the Colony's air space, provide security for the operations of air lines, and contribute to maintaining the morale of the local population. Recently the Governor has put forward the idea of having a fighter presence based partly on RAF personnel and partly on Hong Kong Auxiliaries; this is still being examined. If the arguments for a permanent fighter presence were regarded as over-riding, on political as opposed to military grounds, a self-contained unit of four Hunters and a Hunter trainer could be provided when the squadron in Singapore is withdrawn in March, 1970 and could be sustained until 1975, by which time the position could have to be reviewed. If RAF aircraft are to be permanently stationed in the Colony, it will be necessary to provide clements of a RAF regiment squadron to protect our installations.
8. It remains to be decided whether we should retain the present accompanied basis of the garrison or begin to move steadily towards a situation in which the bulk of the garrison will be unaccompanied; and whether we should confirm the present plans to move to an all British garrison or keep Gurkhas in Hong Kong in the long term, These questions will be considered separately: they do not affect the size of garrison necessary, though they will affect its costs.
Costs
9. An understanding was reached with the Hong Kong Government in December, 1966 that they would contribute £5 million a year în cash and kind for the four years ending 31st March, 1971. This broadly covered the foreign exchange costs of that element of the Army garrison, four battalions and its support, that
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