QA. 1
EXACTLY HOW DO YOUR NEW DEFENCE ARRANGEMENTS AFFECT THE HONG KONG GARRISON?
The contribution which we plan to make to the Five Power
defence arrangements in S.E. Asia will not involve any reduction
either in the strength or effectiveness of the garrison in
Hong Kong. Consideration had at one time been given to making
certain increases in the size of the Colony's garrison but a
general reassessment of the situation has led us to conclude that
the present size of the garrison when combined with our capacity
for reinforcement is entirely adequate to meet Hong Kong's security
needs at the present time.
QA.2 WILL THE WITHDRAWAL FROM SINGAPORE MEAN ANY OF THE UNITS
BASED THERE WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO HONG KONG? IF SO, WHAT TYPE OF UNITS?
Referring back to my answer to your earlier question, the run-
down in Malaysia and Singapore will not release units which will
then be employed to increase the Hong Kong garrison. As I have
Said, the Colony's garrison will remain substantially at its present
level. What will happen - and this may be what you have in mind
is that units at present stationed in Malaysia and Singapore will
find themselves stationed in Hong Kong as part of the normal world-
wide rotation of units. For instance, 10 Gurkha Rifles are this
very month moving from Malaysia to Hong Kong to maintain the number
of infantry battalions there following the recent amalgamation in
the Colony of two other Gurkha battalions.
Since in the future the bulk of the Gurkha Brigade will be
serving in Hong Kong, their logistic and administrative support will
be located there rather than in Malaysia and Singapore.
This, of
course, affects only minor support units and doesn't represent an
increase to the combat element of the garrison.
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