TNAG-0179-FCO40-215-Strength-of-Hong-Kong-Garrison-1970 — Page 68

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compensating cuts in the rest of the garrison; and on the other hand

the Governor is quite categoric in saying (and in our view he is right)

that he could not obtain Hong Kong funds at any time for the capital

cost of the aircraft or for the running costs during the currency of

the present defence contribution agreement (expiring in March 1971).

But acceptance of this conclusion must be subject to the clear proviso

(and we would so inform the Ministry of Defence) that if the projected

training flight visits proved inadequate for their purpose (see

paragraph 4 above) then we reserve the right to reopen the whole

question of providing fighter cover for the Colony in the light of the

circumstances then obtaining.

13. Lord Shepherd is unaware of the developments in this matter

since he discussed it with the Governor in June; and if the original

idea of stationing a fighter unit in the Colony is to be abandoned in

favour of the much less attractive (but much less costly) alternative

of training flight visits, then it is considered that the Minister's

approval for this change in policy will be required.

Moreover, since

The

the original proposal was conditionally approved by Ministers in

Defence Overseas Policy Committee in 1968 (see paragraph 5 above) any

change in that policy will need to be reported to the Committee.

Ministry of Defence are in any event committed to reporting back to

the Committee when they have assessed the full costs of the Hong Kong

defence commitment and that occasion would seem to offer an appropriate

opportunity of informing the Committee of the decision to abandon the

proposal for stationing a fighter unit in the Colony.

14.

This is a subject which officials will be discussing with the

Governor during the last week of November. The Minister may therefore

wish to defer his decision until after he has himself seen the Governor,

(a provisional

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