TNAG-0061-FCO40-97-Strength-of-Hong-Kong-garrison-1968 — Page 6

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COS 1717/7/10/68

Chief of the Defence Staff Chief of the Naval Staff Chief of the General Staff Chief of the Air Staff

59

M Ganyara тага

Copy No 1 of 125 copies

Ministry of Defence

7th October 1968

157

R.205.

R&R m ganisa

file. (25.5.)

AG.68.

Copy to: Mr R.. Sykes, Foreign Office

Major-General J.M. McNeill, Commonwealth

1.

Office

1

'C'

DUS (B)

AUS

P & B)

AUS M

AUS L

DS 20

COS Normal List

FIGHTER AIRCRAFT FOR HONG KONG

9.10.08.

RECEIVED IN

CHIVES No. 63

10 OCT1968

HWB 10/9

In approving (1) a report (2) by the Air Force Department on the feasibility of a small air defence force being provided in Hong Kong from 1970 onwards, you instructed the Commander- in-Chief, Far East, to carry out a detailed examination of the proposal with particular regard to the technical and administrative posts which could be allocated to the Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force.

2.

I enclose a letter (3) from the Commander-in-Chief, Far East,

covering a detailed study of this proposal. Two alternative schemos have been considered. Scheme A allows for maximum participation by the Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force, supported by the Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company whilst Scheme B makes maximum use of the latter. The study concludes that either scheme would meet the requirements but that, for a number of reasons, the adoption of Scheme B is preferred. The Commander-in-Chief, Far East, hus endorsed the conclusions in the study and has recommended that Scheme B should be adopted. You will note at paragraph 45 that, with the agreement of the Air Force Department, only local costs of the two schemes have been assessed.

30 I have invited the Air Force Department to examine and report on the detailed study forwarded by the Commander-in- Chief, Far East, and to include the full costings of the proposed unit under both schemes. On receipt of this which I will circulate I will seek your approval to the report by the Commander-in-Chief, Far East.

J.H. Gibbon

Major-General Secretary

Chiefs of Staff Committee

Enclosure: Report by the Commander-in-Chief, Far East,

Fighter Aircraft for Hong Kong. (19 pages).

on

Notes:

1. COS 40/68.

2.

COS 1419/7/6/68.

3.

CINCFE 3031/6130/12 dated 24th September 1968 (Enclosure).

One page only

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