TNAG-0252-FCO40-288-Strength-of-Hong-Kong-garrison-1970 — Page 116

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DP 31/70(C)(Flimsy Draft) (Continued)

force level of 73 major units for the Hong Kong garrison should

be reduced by one battalion, to 6 major units, so long as the

Commander-in-Chief Far East retained the ability to reinforce the

garrison with one major unit from within the theatre at very

short notice.

The current garrison is therefore 63 major units.

This includes a Singapore based Royal Marine Commando deployed in the Colony temporarily on unaccompanied service to maintain the required minimum force level during the presently planned Gurkha rundown. The Commando will be replaced in December 1970 by one

The Hong Kong

of the Gurkha battalions in Singapore/Malaysia. garrison will then consist of 3 British major units and 3 Gurkha

major units.

5. It has been accepted policy for some time that two of the

battalions in Hong Kong should be British in order to make the

British presence felt and stiffen the police.

Current Reinforcement Plans

this

6. There is a plan (5) to reinforce Hong Kong by onc battalion from Singapore/Malaysia within 72 hours of first warning;

being the estimated time it would take for a situation to get

Note: 5.

JTP(FE) 75

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