TNAG-0252-FCO40-288-Strength-of-Hong-Kong-garrison-1970 — Page 136

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DOP Note 706/70 (Draft)

Continued)

for both political and military reasons it is not acceptable for

the garrison to be reduced and this option is not considered further.

Gibraltar

18.

The infantry garrison of Gibraltar consists of one accompanied

infantry battalion and one unaccompanied company group whose parent

battalion is in the UK. This force is considered to be the

minimum infantry garrison required to meet the current threat from

Spain.

19. HE The Governor and Commander-in-Chief Gibraltar has stated (4

that any reduction in the Gibraltar garrison should only be made if

significant concessions were extracted from the Spanish Government

in the removal of restrictions against the Rock.

20.

The parent battalion of the company group is required to provide 3 company groups in succession for 6 month unaccompanied

Under the tours and to reinforce Gibraltar should the need arise.

baulk guidelines the withdrawal of the company group would not

immediately improve our reinforcement capability for Northern Ireland

since it would not be available for service there for at least 4

months.

21.

It is considered therefore that on both political and military grounds it would be undesirable to reduce the present garrison in Gibraltar by one company and there would be no short term advantage in so doing since it would be in baulk for 4 months after its return.

Malta

22. 1 D and D are based in Malta.

is 3 Para . Both are accompanied.

The only other battalion there

3 Para must return to Aldershot

from Malta between 19 and 26 September if it is to start an

unaccompanied tour in Sharjah in late November as presently

planned.

Note:

4.

MA 2005 dated 6 March 1970

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