TNAG-0179-FCO40-215-Strength-of-Hong-Kong-Garrison-1970 — Page 183

JLONCI

Whon the Ministry of Defence considered this matter in May 1968 they stated that if a Hunter force was stationed in Hong Kong it would also be necessary to provide part of an R.A.F. Regiment

Hotovor Bquadron to protect the associated ground installations. loadquarters, Par Fast Air Force, have since reviewed this requiro- mont and now take the view that it will not in fact be necessary to otation R.A.F. Regiment personnel in the Colony solely because of the presence of the Hantors there. This has naturally helped to keep costs down.

6. The figwe of £335,000 does not include any element in respect of the capital cost of the eight aircraft. The Ministry of Defonco have stated that were the aircraft not needed for Hong Kong, they would, in 1970, become suplus to our raguiremonts and in the normat course would be sold back to Harker Siddeley for refurbishment and rooale to ove7e8a9 customero. Thore 10, apperently a great demand. abroad at the present time for second-hand Huntora (a.g. from Gingopore) and we are under constant political pressure to make than evellablo from R.A.F.

The Ministry of Defence estimate

that they would receive from Hawker Siddeley a total of £300,000 (and not £280,000 as stated in the encloood report) for the eight aircraft. Howevor, rather more than half of this cum would havo to be paid over to the United Statoo Government undor off-shoro purchase arrangements; but the balance of about £140,000 would bo rocovered by the Ministry; and stationing the Hunters in Hong Kong would mean that Defence votes would forogo this aun unicos reimbursos.

7.

The Ministry propose that the Hunter detachment should be established in Hong Kong in March 1970, the date when the Hunter Squadron in F.E.A.F. 1s due to disband. The aircraft would thon be simply redeployed from Singaporo to Hong Kong and the expence of returning them to the United Kingdom and of subsequently flying

To give effent to others out to Hong Kong would thus be avoided. this arrangement, however, they say that a decision will have to bo taken by the spring of this year on the question of meeting the costo of the unit: this would allow F.E.A.P. sufficient time to select the aircraft for Hong Kong and to get the necessary servicing and rofurbishment carried out. (The feasibility study mentioned that any F.E.A.F. aircraft would require part reconditioning, which would involve some 7,500 man-hours and take up to five months to completo). 8. In sending us the enclosed Report, the Ministry of Defence stated that the Chief of Staff had reiterated their stipulation that the costs of the detachment should not be borne by the defonce budget. They are accordingly looking to us to meet the costs and have asked us what arrangements we envisage to reimburse them both for the actual operating costs of the unit and for the not capital amount that they would otherwise receive by selling the aircraft back to Hanker Giddeley. By their reference to "actual" running coste, we adeume that they are covering themselves against any possibility that the actual costs might exceed the estimated costs aa oot out in the encloned report. They have thus hit the ball firmly into our court and we need to consult with you on the next ptop.

SECRET

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