TNAG-0252-FCO40-288-Strength-of-Hong-Kong-garrison-1970 — Page 128

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Reference

SECRET

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

Separate copies to:

Mr. Edes (Arabian Depat.)

Mr. Elam (W.0.D.)

Mr. Gaminara (Hong Kong Dept.)

Mr. Snodgrass (Sathern European Dept.)

Mr. Thomas

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Northern Ireland

I attach a draft of a report by the Defence Operat- ional Planning Staff to the Chiefs of Staff which examines in the short-term (i.e. until the end of this year) how the world-wide deployment of infantry battalions might be altered so as to allow the Northern Ireland commitment to be met without making further withdrawals from our force contributions to NATO. A study of the longer-

The term implications is being carried out separately. Chiefs of Staff will consider this report at their meet- ing on 18 August; I should be grateful for comments on

A the present draft by midday tomorrow, 11 August. further draft will be circulated towards the end of the week.

After an exhaustive survey of all our infantry battalions stationed: outside the U.K. and B. A. O. R., report concludes:

the

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Дура белк. приро

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we have sao comments

on the attacked paper which does not affect the Hong Kong samfia.

Либало

P.A.

11.8.70/

On

Javician

MG! 11.8.20.

(a) that the easiest way to make a further

battalion available would be for 42 Commando Royal Marines to return from Singapore to Northern Ireland in mid- *September. The report suggests that 42

Commando should return to Singapore in mid-December but this should not be taken as read. Once a unit is in Northern Ireland it may be very difficult to recover it. The effect of this would be to accelerate the Far East withdrawal plan. It would not affect in any way the size of the Hong Kong garrison or the position of the Gurkha Battalion in Brunei. We should have to inform local governments.

(2) The report invites Ministers to reconsider their decision to replace the battalion at Sharjah in November. If Ministers were to decide not to replace that battalion there might be an effect on the process of con- sultations with leaders in the area about.

I under- our future policy in the Gulf. stand however that Sir William Luce recently discounted this possibility in conversation with Mr. Nairne at the M. O.D.

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