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involved, during the currency of the present Defence Contribution
In these circumstances there Agreement (expiring in March 1971). appears to be no alternative to agreeing, (provided that the points raised by the Governor in his letter of 15 September are satis- factorily resolved) to the Ministry of Defence's suggestion of Occasional visits to the Colony by R.A.F. combat aircraft engaged in training detachments to the Far East in the post-1971 era. But any decision to do so will require Ministerial approval and the matter has accordingly been submitted for Lord Shepherd's considera- tion. The submission to the Minister contained a recommendation that any approval given to the proposals should be on the under- standing that if the level of fighter cover provided by these visits was found by experience to be inadequate for its purposes then the whole question of fighter cover for Hong Kong would need to be re-opened and reviewed.
4. Lord Shepherd has indicated that before reaching any final decision on this matter he wishes to discuss it with the Governor (arrangements have been made for the Governor to see Lord Shepherd at 3 p.m. on Wednesday 26 November).
5. As regards the provision of fighter cover for Hong Kong during the interim period between March 1970 (when fighter cover from Singapore will cease to be available) and the beginning of the post-1971 arrangements, the Air Force Department proposals (which are subject to scrutiny by the combined planning staff and there- after to detailed examination and planning) envisage the possi- bility of four firm visits by Vulcan, Phantom and Canberra air- craft during 1970 (three of which would be during the period June/ July and the fourth during November/December); plus ad hoc visits by Vulcan and Canberra Ranger aircraft up to a maximum of three visits by each type (a Ranger aircraft denotes a solitary air- craft on a long distance flight); plus periodic visits by F.E.A.F. Shackleton aircraft until their final withdrawal in September 1971. Opportunities for visits during 1971 will be even less frequent because of the absence of any major exercise during that year and because of the advanced stage which will by then have been reached
However, in the run-down of the Far East Air Force.
it is under-
stood that two aircraft carriers will be East of Suez during late
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