TNAG-0252-FCO40-288-Strength-of-Hong-Kong-garrison-1970 — Page 127

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Reference......

Mr. Hall (Defence Department)

Northern ireland

I see no objection to the proposal to withdraw a battalion from Singapore (paragraphs 32, 39 f. and 40 b.). I doubt whether it will matter greatly if it is not returned to Singapore by mid-December. I am not sure that we are quite so dependent on the Singapore Government's agreement as paragraph 32 suggests, though we should certainly need to notify them and establish that they saw no serious objection. I am fairly sure, and Mr. Wilford with whom I discussed this last week agrees, that they would not in fact object.

2. The wording of paragraph 33 on Brunei is not quite correct. The Gurkha Battalion is not stationed there "under the terms of the current Defence Treaty" but "as part of our forces in the area under arrangements agreed with the Sultan". The battalion could not be withdrawn before the end of November in any case because the Sultan has been given a solemn assurance that it will remain until then. Furthermore, the Secretary of State has told him that H.M.G. are considering urgently the 1959 agreement and the future of the Gurkha Battalion and talks about these are likely to take place in late October. Subject to further consideration in September the Defence and Overseas Policy Committee have agreed proposals which would involve us offering at the talks to leave the Gurkha Battalion longer. Perhaps the final sentence of the paragraph could be rewcrded as follows:

"The Sultan has been given an undertaking that the

battalion will stay until the end of November. The Sultan wishes it to remain longer and talks about this are due to be held shortly. It would not therefore be politically acceptable for this unit to be withdrawn at the present time."

PA

данской on jamson file

46

168:20

(W. A. Ward)

ment

South West Pacific Department 11 August, 1970

Copied to:

Mr. Edes (Arabian Department)

•

Mr. Elam (Western Organisations Department) Mr. Gaminara (Hong Kong Department)

Mr. Snodgrass)

Mr. Thomas

(Southern European Department)

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