SECRET
PARAPHRASE NOT REQUIRED
SECRET
✪ UNCLASSIFIED ·PERIY OR REFERENCE
CLN ALPHA PD THE CONDITIONS DESCRIBED AT ONE ALPHA TO CHARLIE
ABOVE DO NOT WORSEN PD BRAVO PD IT CAN BE GUARANTEED THAT A
REQUEST BY THE GOVERNOR AND CBF TO REDUCE THE NOTICE FROM SEVEN
DAYS TO SEVENTY TWO HOURS WOULD DE ACCEPTED WITHOUT DELAY ON CMM
POSSIBLY CMM AS LITTLE EVIDENCE AS A SPECIAL BRANCH ASSESSMENT OF
AN IMMINENT SERIOUS THREAT PD CERTAINTY OF REINFORCEMENT WHEN
DEMANDED IS THE PRE-REQUISITE TO FOREGOING THE SEVENTH MAJOR UNIT
IN GARRISON PD FIVE PD COMPOSITION OF FORCES PD GOVERNOR AND I
FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT THREE AND ONE THIRD UK MAJOR UNITS SHOULD
BE MAINTAINED IN HONG KONG PD THIS PROVIDES AN ADEQUATE RATIO OF
UK TROOPS TO GUKHAS AND A BETTER EARNEST OF HMG'S INTENTION TO
SUPPORT HONG KONG PD GOVERNMENT'S EAST OF SUEZ POLICY HAS INCREASED
CONFIDENCE HERE BUT EVEN SO A REDUCED PROPORTION OF UK TROOPS
WOULD BE BADLY RECEIVED PD SIX PD I FULLY SUPPORT THE PROPOSAL
IN PARAGRAPH 16 TO ANNEX A TO REFERENCE A THAT THREE GURKHA
BATTALIONS SHOULD BE IN HONG KONG CMH ONE IN BRUNEI AND ONE IN UK
IF FIV BATTALIONS REMAINING PD THIS WILL PERMIT SATISFACTORY
ROULEMENT FOR THE GURKHAS AND HAS THE SWFALT OF MGBG PD IF ONLY
FOUR ARE RETAINED WE SHALL HAVE TO EXAMINE VERY CAREFULLY
THE PROBLEM OF THEIR ROULEMENT PD SEVEN PD WHILETQOEARLY THE NON
APPEARANCE OF THE SEVENTH MAJOR UNIT NEXT YEAR MAY WELL CAUSE
COMMENT AND POSSIBLE CRITICISM CMM ESPECIALLY IF THE PERIOD
FOR REINFORCEMENT IS LENGTHENED CMM GOVERNOR AND I DO NOT FEEL
THAT IT WILL CAUSE AN UNACCEPTABLE LOSS OF CONFIDENCE PD HOWEVER
THIS CONFIDENCE WILL BE AFFECTED BY ANY REDUCTION IN NAVAL
FORCES BELOW ONE GUARD SHIP AND THE MCM SQUADRON PD IT IS ALSO
EMPHASISED THAT REGULAR VISITS BY RAF AIRCRAFT AS AGREED MUST
CONTINUE
BT
SECRET
NNNN
The DISTRIBUTION
(authorised by DOC)
Due For CIRC 0901129
SECRET
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.