SECRET
40
On his return to London the Defence Secretary indicated that he would be unwilling to accept any net extra cost against defence votes on account of the additional helicopters and suggested that investigation should be made into the possibilities of paying for them by making cuts elsewhere in the present costs of the garrison, on the basis of military priorities. This investigation is in progress and has reached the stage indicated in the attached copy of a preliminary draft Note which has been prepared by the Defence Operational Planning Staff for considera- tion by the Chiefs of Staff. The Note concludes (paragraphs 19 and 20) that acceptable savings in the costs of the garrison could be found to offset only a small proportion of the estimated
annual operational costs of the additional helicopters; but
that there is nevertheless operational justification for the
additional machines and that the requirement for them will
become progressively stronger if the Hong Kong garrison is to meet its operational commitments within e xisting force levels.
Hong Kong Department 19 November, 1969.
- 2
SECRET
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.