TNAG-0252-FCO40-288-Strength-of-Hong-Kong-garrison-1970 — Page 103

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ANNEX A to DP 31/70(C)

Draft)(Continued

indicated that they would not wish any UK forces associated

with a Five Power defence arrangement in SE Asia to have

additional commitments elsewhere, but that their objections

would be reduced if the forces concerned were stationed

outside Malaysia.

lest there should be any gap in the support to his regime provided by the stationed Gurkha battalion and might also demur at meeting the full costs of a unit which had another commitment. The Governments of Singapore, Australia and

The Sultan of Brunei would be concerned

New Zealand would not welcome the double earmarking of the

battalion in Singapore but would probably accept it as part of the price of UK involvement in the defence of SE Asia. Thus it would be necessary to remove these Commonwealth countries' objections to double earmarking at a very early stage and their agreement to it would have to be made part of the arrangements for the UK presence in Singapore and in Brunei

after 1971.

b. Other Operations.

There is a risk that either battalion

might already be involved in operations in Singapore/Malaysia and Brunei when required in Hong Kong, although it is improbable that both battalions would be deployed simultan-

rously. However if one battalion was committed to an operation in Singapore/laysia or Brunei, the other battalion would have to be continuously at short notice to move as

the spearhead unit. This would not be acceptable.

A - 7

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