TNAG-0252-FCO40-288-Strength-of-Hong-Kong-garrison-1970 — Page 132

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DOP Note 706/70

Draft) Continued)

itself to those options which might be available in the short term

ie until the end of the year. It does not seek to provide a long

term solution.

3. In making this examination it has been assumed that all the

possibilities of utilising units stationed in the UK and BAOR for

service in Northern Ireland have been fully explored. This includes the employment of Public Duties battalions which play their full part in unaccompanied tours in Northern Ireland and overseas. The Irish battalions though not available for Service in Northern Ireland take their turn in unaccompanied toura overseas. The study is therefore confined to the possibility of the redeployment of units stationed elsewhere overseas.

4.

We have considered the use of Gurkha battalions in relieving

British battalions. We found that although it might be possible to

deploy them to certain areas they would be more useful in relieving a

British unit in the Far East. This option has therefore only been

covered in respect of the Far East.

5. It should be noted that the deployment of army units is

governed by certain guide lines to ensure fairness. For example,

after a period of unaccompanied overseas service units are put in

baulk until, in general terms, they have completed an equivalent

period in an accompanied role. A similar system operates in respect

of individuals, as opposed to units, in the Navy. Although these

guide lines have had to be "bent" on occasions to meet certain emergency situations, to do so as a matter of course would "mortgage" the future arms plot. It would also have a grave effect on morale

since the baulk guide lines are the main means of ensuring a

modicum of stability for units.

ó.

The paper starts with a discussion of those units still

serving in Northern Ireland, which were deployed to reinforce the

garrison in June and July to meet the increased threat of violence over that period. It then examines the various options for

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