TNAG-0212-FCO40-248-Departmental-briefs-on-Hong-Kong-1970 — Page 94

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15.

Fighters

a. In 1968 the Governor asked for a permanent fighter force

to be stationed on Hong Kong from March 1970. But this requirement was to meet purely local polotical considerations

and none of the costs involved could be accepted as a charge

to Defence Votes. The Hong Kong Government were unwilling to

accept the financial burden so the proposal was shelved.

b. A compromise solution has now been found that provides for

RAP fighters to visit the Colony when detachments are in the

Far East on training. These visits by detachments of hantoms, Buccaneers, Nimrods and Carbervas would mean the presence

of RAF aircraft in the Colony for perhaps 20 days in a year.

16. Helicopters. Four extra Whirlwinds have recently been deployed

to Hong Kong bringing the colony's total up to ten. Thus they are

now capable of providing a complete platoon lift simultaneously.

17. Tai Mo Shan (117 Simals Unit). A F PS-91A search radar with its

associated P PS-6 height finder is situated on Tai Mo Shen, the highest

point in the New Territories. The unit's primary task is to provide

information for intelligence purposes on aircraft flying over the Chinese

mainland. The radar picture is also relayed to Kai Pak Airport and is

used for long runge surviellance of civil aircraft appro...ching or leaving

the Colony.

Defence Contribution

18. The Hong Kong Government's present contribution towards the cost

of stationing troops in the Colony is £5 million a year out of a total

cost of some 216 million.

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19.

The present Agreement runs out on 31 March 1971 and negotiations

for a new Agreement are in hand. The budgetary costs of the garrison for 1971/72 are put at £20 million a year of which the internal security element is estimated at being rather over £10 million a year. It is hoped

(can

that the ñong Kong Government can be persuaded to meet the whole or a

very large part of this last figure. It is possible that they will prefer

to offset some of their contribution by undertaking to provide a number

of

works services.

will agree to meet a reasonable proportion.

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