TNAG-0061-FCO40-97-Strength-of-Hong-Kong-garrison-1968 — Page 88

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is not a meaningful proposition.

Background

7. The proposals on the future strength and structure

of the British forces in Hong Kong are unexceptionable, save

for the query which the memorandum leaves hanging over the possibility of a permanent fighter presence in the Colony

after 1970.

8.

The Foreign Secretary wrote to the Defence Secretary on 6 May setting out the reasons why such a force was

The Defence Secretary has mooted desirable (copy attached).

the possibility of a unit of four Hunters and a Hunter trainer

to be stationed in Hong Kong after the present squadron in

Certain ground support Singapore is withdrawn in March, 1970. would also be required. If the Defence Secretary is prepared

to confirm his intention of stationing this force in Hong

Kong it will in our view meet the requirement.

9.

Costs

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In his memorandum the Defence Secretary has recalled

the inter-departmental rule, recently confirmed, that civil Votes should reimburse the Ministry of Defence for the extra- budgetry costs of forces provided in a Colony for internal

security purposes.

(Paragraph 10 of annex). The Defence

Secretary admits that the distinction between internal security purposes and external defence responsibilities is somewhat arbitrary. This is, to say the least, an under-

statement. We do not believe that any such distinction can

be made realistically in the case of Hong Kong.

set out in the Foreign Secretary's letter of 6 May were the

following:

/(a)

The reasons

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