TNAG-0252-FCO40-288-Strength-of-Hong-Kong-garrison-1970 — Page 10

Reference

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S.W.P.D. (Mr. Ward)

c.c Mr. Tesh

Col. Adler (Arabian)

Mr. Gaminara (H.K.D.)

Proposal to Accelerate the Far East Rundown

I should be grateful for clearance of the attached draft report by the Ministry of Defence Operational Planners by noon on Friday.

2. The Planners accept CINCFE's recommendation that 42 Commando, AQ 3rd Commando Brigade Group and A Squadron 14/204 should be withdrawn from Singapore as from 1 April 1971.

3. They consider, however, that the withdrawal of

40 Commando and the 1/2 Gurkha battalion should not take place until 1 November 1971 (CINCFE had proposed

1 August) because the incoming British battalion can not be released before then.

und

4. During October 1971 40 Commando will be put on 12 days notice to move to the Gulf. On 1 November 1971

it will embark in an LPH from Singapore to provide a protection force for the last stages of military with- drawal from the Persian Gulf.

5. If 40 Commando has to be moved to the Gulf sometime in October (because of an emergency), the Gurkha battalion will provide the protection force in Singapore until the arrival of the British battalion. The delay in the movement of the Gurkha battalion from Singapore to Hong Kong will not affect minimum force levels in Hong Kong.

6. The Planners state that if Army units are to be withdrawn on 1 April 1971 then it will be necessary for the Malaysian and Singapore Governments to be informed by January 1971 so that necessary arrangements can be made. The question of when we inform the Malaysians and Singaporeans is however not discussed further in the Planners Paper as the Chiefs of Staff Secretariat have commissioned a separate note on this aspect from Mr. Nairne, the DUS(P).

I do not think that there is anything we need dissent in the draft Note, although we should seek confirma- tion that reference to minimum force levels being main- tained in Hong Kong means that the size of the garrison there will not fall below 623 major units. The reten- tion of 40 Commando in Singapore until 1 November and its embarkation from there to cover Gulf withdrawal (as opposed to CINCFE's earlier proposal that it should be withdrawn to the U.K. on 1 August) ensures that there will be an adequate protective force to cover Gulf withdrawal, in case events there in the latter half of 1971 do not proceed according to present forecasts.

SECRET

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