SECRET
PA on
VISIT OF MINISTER OF STATE
(LORD SHEPHERD)
TO HONG KONG MAY/JUNE 1969
gavison file ANG
Je 1269.
Note No. 6
DEFENCE MATTERS
The Minister may wish to raise the matter of helicopters with the Governor (paragraphs 9-11 below) and mention the doubts of the Chiefs of Staff about the operational need for the additional machines. It would be helpful if the Minister could at the same time secure the Governor's confirmation that
he does in fact support the proposed increase in the strength of the Whirlwinds despite the additional cost involved - a factor which will inevitably need to be taken into account when the time comes to negotiate a new defence contribution agreement with Hong Kong.
2. The Governor has asked for discussions during the Minister's visit on the question of repositioning fighter aircraft in Hong Kong as a result of our withdrawal from Singapore/Malaysia. There is separate briefing material on this subject.
Background
General
3. Hong Kong could not be defended against a determined Chinese attack except perhaps by the use of nuclear weapons. There are
no plans for the reinforcement of Hong Kong against external
aggression and the external role of the garrison is to offer such resistance as may be appropriate in the circumstances at the time. Although there is no agreement with the United States about coming to the defence of Hong Kong, the US Government have been given an assurance that it is our intention to resist
aggression. Local opinion, while probably under no illusion
about the ability of the present garrisen to resist for long, regards the existence of British troops deployed to guard the
frontier as an assurance of our intention to defend the Colony;
it is probably assumed locally that in any general hostilities
in the area the Seventh Fleet would, if necessary, intervene.
SECRET
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