S.V.P.D. (Mr. Ward)
c.c. S.E.AD. (Mr. Watts)
H.K.D. (Mr. Gaminara) Mr. Tesh.
Reference.......
18
Earmarking of Battalion in Singapore to meet commitments outside the halaysia/Singapore area.
Thank you for sending me a copy of your minute of 13 August recording points made by Mr. Wilford about Lord Carrington's visit to the Far East.
2.
One factor which we must bear in mind when con- sidering whether the battalion in Singapore should be declared to SEATO contingency plans is whether it might be necessary in the light of the Defence Review in September to earmark it instead for the reinforcement of Hong Kong. In addition to commissioning a study on force declarations to SEATO, the Chiefs of Staff have also commissioned a study on the interrelationship of the battalion in Singapore and the Hong Kong garrison., 3. If as a result of manpower and financial constraints, Ministers decide that the only means of meating the undertaking to leave a battalion in Singapore is to abandon the previous Government's intention to increase the Hong Kong garrison by an extra battalion at the end of 1971, the we shall be immediately faced with the problem of providing for rapid reinforcement of Hong Kong in an emergency. The case for an extra battalion in Hong Kong was argued in 1968 on the basis that reinforcement from the United Kingdom was not an adequate solution.
4. If it is decided in September to reduce the force levels of the Hong Kong Garrison, then I think we should have to give precedence to earmarking the Singapore battalion for Hong Kong (which is a priority2 defence commitment) rather than to SEATO (which is a priority 3 defence commitment). The Australian and New Zealanders would obviously prefer our Singapore battalion only to be earmarked to commitments which they share with us, but I think that this question, if it arises, must be looked at primarily from the viewpoint of British interest.
5. If of course the Defence Review leaves the force levels of the Hong Kong garrison untouched, then the question of possible conflict of interest between declaration to SEATO and Hong Kong reinforcement should not arise.
A
17.8.70
1271
क
R&R on ganon
für ANG
SECRET
(J. Thomas)
14 August 1970 Defence Department
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