TNAG-0179-FCO40-215-Strength-of-Hong-Kong-Garrison-1970 — Page 89

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that the strength of Whirlwind helicopters in Hong Kong should

be increased from six to nine or ten in March 1970 when three

or four will, in any event, become available from the Far

Eastern Air Force. They also pointed out that the adoption of this proposal would involve additional annual costs of the order of £200,000 plus any works costs that might be identified.

The Ministry added that this additional cost would probably have

to be borne on defence votes, at least until March 1971, when

the present defence contribution agreement with the Hong Kong

Government expires.

5.

The Commander-in-Chief, Far East, accordingly sought formal

approval from the Ministry of Defence for the redeployment to

Hong Kong in March 1970 of the four helicopters in question.

After some initial hesitation the Chiefs of Staff supported the

request and recommended it, in June, for approval by the Defence

Secretary. Mr. Healey discussed the matter with the Governor

when he visited Hong Kong later the same month and informed the

latter that he was not entirely convinced of the military need for the additional helicopters.

6. 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 investigations should be made into the possibi-

lities of paying for them by making cuts elsewhere in the

present costs of the garrison, on the basis of military

priorities.

Javed

CS.O, BLF.

any helicoptèr

Hong Kong Department October. 1969

was bornly whappy when this; he cuts went nowhere near mecky the cost of he

сий

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