TNAG-0061-FCO40-97-Strength-of-Hong-Kong-garrison-1968 — Page 85

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F.O. Brief

SECRET

DEFENCE AND OVERSEA POLICY COMMITTEE

29 May, 1968

Item

: Hong Kong

(OPD(68) 32

133

Problem

In his memorandum of 21 May the Defence Secretary made

the following recommendations:

(a) That the Committee should agree to certain

proposals (set out at paragraph 2 of his memorandum)

for the future strength and structure of our forces

in Hong Kong;

(b) that the Committee should consider whether Hunter

(ခ)

aircraft should be stationed in the Colony after

their withdrawal from Singapore;

that the Committee should agree in principle that

the costs of that part of the garrison not directly

attributable to our external defence responsibilities,

with the appropriate support, should be reimbursed to

defence votes.

Recommendation

2.

I recommend:

(a) that the Secretary of State should concur in the

general force structure proposed for Hong Kong;

that he should support the Governor of Hong Kong's

request that a detachment of fighter aircraft be

stationed permanently in Hong Kong;

(b)

SECRET

/(c)

137