TNAG-0252-FCO40-288-Strength-of-Hong-Kong-garrison-1970 — Page 17

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ANNEX A TO

DOP 535/70 (Draft)

Continued)

pesence will be on a tour of duty in Northern Ireland immediately

prior to moving to the Far East and would not be available to take over

from the second commande group (40 Cão Gp) in Singapore until late

Oct 71.

Withdrawal of 3 Cdo Bde Gp

8. No major problems are foreseen in the withdrawal of the first

commando group (42 Cdo Gp) and HQ 3 Cdo Bde Gp from April 71, as

proposed by CINCFE. However, as stated above, 40 Cdo Gp cannot be

relieved in Singapore until late Oct 71, and apart from this the

early return of the unit to the UK would present major administrative

difficulties as no accommodation will be available for it until

Nov/Dec 71.

Compromise Solution

9.

Taking into account CINCFE's proposals and the problems referred

to above, a compromise solution would be to withdraw 42 Cảo Gp, HQ 3

Cdo Bde Gp and A Sqn 14/20 H from 1 Apr 71 as suggested by CINCFE,

but to delay the withdrawal of 40 Cdo Gp until after the arrival in

Singapore in late Oct 71 of the relieving UK battalion group. The

withdrawal of the families of 40 Cdo Gp could in this case be

delayed until the first 2 weeks of Sep 71, which again would ease

the movement problem in Aug 71.

10.

Although CINCFE has recommended that the proposal (5) to cover

the Gulf withdrawal with one commando group from Singapore should

not be pursued, we consider that this commitment could best be met

by the Far East commando. From 1 Oct 71, 40 Cdo Gp in Singapore

could be at 12 days notice for the Gulf, embarking in an LPH on or

about 1 Nov 71 after relief by the incoming UK battalion group,

Note:

5. CINCFE 14/70 dated 11 May 70

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