(149)
CYPHER/CAT A
PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 967
SECRET
SECRET
TOP COPY
TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
7 AUGUST 1968
150
HW
ADDRESSED TO C.0. TELEGRAM NO. 967 OF 7 AUGUST RFI PA SINGAPORE YOUR TELEGRAM 1053: HONG KONG GARRISON.
OUR NEED HERE IS TO BE AUTHORISED TO RESPOND SENSIELY TO ENQUIRIES,
SINCE THE LOCAL PRESS AND PUBLIC ARE UNLIKELY TO ACCEPT THAT FIRM
DECISIONS ON HONG KONG FORCE LEVELS, WHICH HAVE BEEN REFERRED TO
IN GENERAL TERMS IN THE WHITE PAPER, ARE EITHER UNKNOWN TO US OR
TOO SECRET TO BE MENTIONED. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO VOLUNTEER ANY
FORMAL STATEMENT.
2. OUR CONCERN IS ONLY OVER MATTERS ON WHICH FIRM DECISIONS HAVE
BEEN MADE, AND WHICH WE WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO CONFIRM IF QUESTIONED, I.E.
(A) R.N. FRIGATES AND MINESWEEPERS, AND SMAL TANKER.
(B) SEVEN AND TWO THIRDS ARMY UNITS.
(C) SIX WHIRLWIND HELICOPTERS.
3. ON 2(A) PRELIMINARY ARRANGEMENTS FOR ACCOMMODATION FOR MINE-
1
SWEEPER CREWS WILL SOON HAVE TO BE MADE, AND THIS WILL MAKE EVASION DIFFICULT. AS REGARDS 2(B), AS YOU RECOGNISE IN YOUR PARAGRAPH 3 WE WOULD BE IN A DIFFICULT POSITION IF WE CANNOT CONFIRM
WHAT VCGS SAID. AS TC 2(C), THE HELICOPTERS ARE ALREADY HERE. IT IS SIMPLY A QUESTION OF CONFIRMING THEIR RETENTION.
4. IF WE ARE ASKED ABOUT FIGHTERS, IT WOULD BE SUFFICIENT CAND
TRUED TO SAY THAT NO FIRM PLANS HAVE YET BEEN MADE FOR FIGHTER
REINFORCEMENTS AFTER THE SINGAPORE RUN-DOWN: AND THAT, IN ANY
EVENT THESE WILL REMAIN AVAILABLE FROM SINGAPORE FOR SOME YEARS,
AS AT PRESENT.
5. I HAVE CONSULTED THE COMMANDER, BRITISH FORCES, WHO AGREES
WITH THE ABOVE.
SIR D. TRENCH
FILE S
H.K. DEPT.
C.O.
FFFFF
eant to
Copies MYA Campbell
W/C. Sutton
MOD.
SECRET
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.63
7 AUG 1968
HWJA 10/2
bu 14.8.68.
ANE
9/8. (spk, w/c.
Sultan. мов, кт.
6285)
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.