TNAG-0179-FCO40-215-Strength-of-Hong-Kong-Garrison-1970 — Page 52

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ANNEX A TO

DOP 528/69

(Preliminary Draft)

ADDITIONAL HELICOPTERS FOR HONG KONG

•

INTRODUCTION

In June 1969 we approved (1) the provision of four additional

Whirlwind helicopters for Hong Kong from 31st March 1970 and sub-

mitted our recommendation (2) to the Secretary of State.

2. In his reply (3) S of S stated he was not convinced that the

additional helicopters were essential. He would therefore be un-

willing to accept any net extra cost to the defence budget on this

account and he suggested they be paid for out of the cost of the Hong

Kong Garrison. He also asked if it would be possible to provide

Wessex helicopters instead of Whirlwinds, but a study of the global

disposition of both types of helicopter has already revealed (1) no

way of re-equipping Hong Kong with Wessex in the foreseable future.

3. We considered the use of Army Scout helicopters, which will be

stationed in Hong Kong after April 1970, to augment the existing troop

lift capability but rejected this possibility because Scout helicopters

would be fully committed to their primary tasks during periods of

tension.

4.

It was thought that a study which CINCFE was making of the

administrative arrangements in Hong Kong might produce some savings.

This study (4) has now been received and is currently being examined

(5) by CAPL, but we are advised that substantial savings are unlikely.

5. It remains, therefore, to discover whether the cost of the four

additional helicopters could be met by other compensating savings in

the Hong Kong Garrison. This annual cost would be £143,000 budgetary

Notes:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

COS 42/69

E31/62 dated 11th June 1969

MO5/14 dated 30th June 1969

CINCFE 3079/8013/19 dated 19th September 1969

PPO 107/69 and PAO 56/69

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