TNAG-0179-FCO40-215-Strength-of-Hong-Kong-Garrison-1970 — Page 155

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CONFIDENTITAL,

Joby

Hong Kong Department

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HKK 10/3

Original Ma

This Cary sta

4/4110/5 HICKIO/1

4 June, 1969

Para(+)

I am replying in John Moreton's absence to your letter to him AUB (A9)F2 or 29 May (bout fighter aircraft Top Hong Kong

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My main purpose in writing at this stage is to let you havo hy the information in the enclosed copy of a telegram that we have just received from Hong Kong. You will see that Lord Shepherd

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(who is now in llong Kong) has already discussed the question of

We fully take the fighters with the Governor and with the CBP.

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your point about the need for an early decision in this matter, but we very much hope that you will find it practicable to meot the Ministor's request for a decision to be deferred until after Mr. Healey's visit to the Colony later this month (24-26 June). I should appreciate it if you could let me know as soon as possiblo whether this can be done so that I can tell the Governor in good time.

3. I do not think that there is much point in my commonting at thio otage on the proposals in the second paragraph of the telegram except perhaps to say that the suggestion at (B) would, I think, dispose of both of the difficulties that you mention in the third paragraph of your letter.

4.. There is one other point (in paragraph 5 of your letter) which puzzles uo a litt10. You say that you have no plans to deploy fighters to Hong Kong (from this country) for training or other purposes. Wo are not clear as to how we should interpret this in the light of the record of the Chiefs of Staff meeting with the Governor on 30 April, 1968 (soe Air Marshal Fletcher'e comment at the foot of the second page of that record) or of paragraph 7 of the Annex to orD(68)32 of ‍21 May, 1968. An I correct in asmanâng that under your prosent plans after the disbandment of No.20 Squadron of Hunters in the Far East under the rundown plun, thore would bo no

but that, nonetholoc, pernent deployment of fighters in Hong Kong; there would be regular visits by Phantome (or possibly other fightore) to the Colony?

R. Haynes, Esq., Einiotry of Defence.

W. S. Carter)

LAGT

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