TNAG-0179-FCO40-215-Strength-of-Hong-Kong-Garrison-1970 — Page 104

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SECRET

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Hong Kong Sear.

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1969.

10.lo. In the course of his subsequent discussions

with the Defence Secretary the Governor made it

clear that he was quite unwilling to contemplate

any capital payment by Hong Kong for purchasing

the aircraft; and so far as operating costs were

concerned, he emphasised the difficulties with

which he would be faced in asking his Executive

Council for any additional defence contribution

before 1971. The Defence Secretary then

mentioned that R.A.F. aircraft would be visiting

Singapore for training purposes for limited

periods each year after 1971 and that he would

enquire as to the possibility of occasional

visits to Hong Kong forming part of these

training detachments. The Governor indicated

that he might, in the last resort, be content

to accept such visits as a substitute for the

establishment of a permanent fighter unit in

the Colony.

As a result of the above discussions we

addressed a letter to the Governor at the end

of August (copy attached) setting out the extent

to which visits could be made to Hong Kong by

R.A.F. aircraft in conjunction with the post-

1971 training programme already planned for the

Far East. The letter also gives details of the

types of aircraft which would be involved with

provisional estimates of the capital and

recurrent costs (both of which would need to

be borne by Hong Kong) of providing for and

operating such visits. In his reply (copy

attached) the Governor has indicated that

subject to the clarification of certain points

he would be prepared to accept the suggested

post-1971 training flight visits as very much

a second best alternative to the stationing of

a fighter unit in the Colony.

Mrx