TNAG-0252-FCO40-288-Strength-of-Hong-Kong-garrison-1970 — Page 56

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Reference..

SECRET

Mr. Gaminara (Hong Kong Department)

Mr. Analevard (F.E.D.)

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

Mr. Lavers (S.A.D.

Hong Kong Garrison

Please see:

1

FLAGA.

FLAG B

~/20 FLAG

[M. Wilford's manuscript note to his amet xveals

Inat

we can expect the support tub, the CGs against any alampi ro distunda pics matio.

RECEIVED IN

REGISTRY No. 81

18 SEP 1970

HKKIO/1 PA on

garrison file

A.

18.9.20

પુર્

(a)

Planners' paper on reinforcement of the Hong Kong Garrison;

33

(b)

brief prepared for Mr. Wilford;

(c)

(36)

2.

record of discussion in the Chiefs of Staff Committee: 16 September.

The Chiefs of Staff at their meeting yesterday accepted the report by the Defence Policy Staff recommend ing the extention of the reinforcement requirement for Hong Kong from 72 hours to 7 days notice. This means that it will no longer be necessary to increase the Hong Kong garrison by an extra infantry battalion atthe end of 1971 as agreed in March 1968.

3.

This decision has considerable implications for the deployment of the Gurkha brigade after 1971, if Minis ters decide next month to retain the brigade on a five battalion basis. The Governor of Hong Kong has made it clear that if the garrison is to remain at its present level of 6 2/3 major units he is not prepared to have more than 3 Gurku infantry battalions in Hong Kong. Although the negotiations with the Sultan of Brunei about Britain's defence relationship with that State are not now expected to begin until November, it can be reasonably

d that one Gurkha battalion will be stationed in Brunei after 1971. Unless the Governor of Hong Kong can be persuaded to accept change in the established ratio between British and Gurkha units in Ilong Kong it will therefore be necessary to deploy the fifth Gurkha infantry battalion to the United Kingdom.

4.

If the Defence Secretary approves the recommendation made by the Chiefs of Staff, the concurrence of other Ministers to the reduction of the proposed force levels of the Hong Kong garrison after 1971 willbe ought in the context of the papers on the Far East military presence and/or future of the brigade of Gurkhas which are to be submitted by the MOD to the DOPC early in October.

5. Hong Kong Department will note that a decision not to increase the Hong Kong Garrison means cancelling the plans for the building of the Erskin barracks in Ilong Kong. This has considerable implications for the negot- iations on the future level of the Hong Kong defence contribution

đ

(J. Thoms)

17 September 1970. Defence Desartment