TNAG-0252-FCO40-288-Strength-of-Hong-Kong-garrison-1970 — Page 91

Reference..

SECRET U.K. EYES ONLY

24

(23) 194

(22)

Hong Kong Department (Mr. Gaminara)

c.c. F.E.D. (Mr. Morgan)

S.AD (Mr. Lavers) S.W.P.D. (Mr. McCarthy)

The Future Land Force Levels of the Hong Kong

Garrison

As I told you on the telephone, we have queried at the request of Mr. Wilford the assumption in the Hong Kong study that the present garrison needs to be reinforced within 72 hours of first warning. I attach a copy of Mr. Tesh's letter of 24 August to Commodore Berthon which was cleared with Mr. Wilford before despatch.

2.

Mr. Tesh's letter crossed with a revised draft of the Hong Kong paper, a copy of which I also attach. There are only minor amendments to the flimsy draft which I circulated to you last week. If it contains anything however which you should like to see amended, I should be grateful to know by 3 p.m. on Friday.

3. The Ministry of Defence are now proceeding to have another look at the assumption we have queried, and they will be getting in touch with us. A re-examination of the reinforcement assumption may have implications for the Brigade of Gurkhas. Only 3 Gurkha battalions will be needed in Hong Kong if the garrison is to remain at a level of 6/3 major units after 1971.

The paper proposes that the fourth Gurkha unit which would not be needed should be redeployed to the U.K. fifth battalion would be in Brunei). I do not know how practicable the option of redeployment of a Gurkha battalion to the U.A. really is; although it would be politically welcome from the viewpoint of our relations with Nepal. It may be, if the Ministry of Defence decide that the Hong Kong garrison can be maintained at its present level,that they will either request:

Mr Thomas importe

no comment papert.

PA on

ARS

file

66.8.20.

(a)

(b)

(the

the retention of the Brigade of Gurkhas after 1971 on a 4 battalion basis only;

a re-examination of our own part of the ratio of British to Gurkha units in Hong Kong. If the Governor was prepared to accept that 4 battalions in the existing garrison of 5 battalions (plus 1 2/3 supporting major units) could be Gurkhathen we should have an extra British Army unit available to help relieve the overstrtch of our armed forces caused by Northern Ireland.

CONFIDENTIAL

(J. Thomas)

25 August 1970 Defence Department