TNAG-0179-FCO40-215-Strength-of-Hong-Kong-Garrison-1970 — Page 122

Sir Edward Peck

SECRET

35

AIRCRAFT FOR HONG KONG

In discussions with the Governor of Hong Kong in the Colony

on 25 June, the Defence Secretary undertook to examine plans for

sending aircraft to Hong Kong on training flights after 1971. Such

visits might provide an alternative to the repositioning of fighter

aircraft in the Colony, if the Governor considers that they constitute

an acceptable measure of air cover. This is the origin of the

report now presented to the Chiefs of Staff,

2. It is the view of the Chiefs of Staff (accepted by the Defence

Secretary) that there is no military justificati on for maintaining a

token air cover in Hong Kong. The Governor has argued that some

air cover is required

(a) to deter intrusion by military aircraft into Hong Kong

air space (e.g. by Chinese Communist or Nationalist

aircraft);

(b) to bolster local confidence.

The FCO has supported the Governor and argued in favour of the

stationing of a permanent unit of fighters in the Colony on the

grounds that the very set of sending aircraft to reinforce the

garrison in a period of tension might exacerbate and escalate an

already inflammable situation.

3. It is suggested that we look at this exeraise solely from the

angle of whether it is likely to meet the Governor's two points;

our point is one we can hold in reserve if the Governor comes to

the conclusion that Hong Kong cannot afford the luxury of a

SECRET

/permanent ...