TNAG-0279-FCO40-315-Visit-of-Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-Aff-1970 — Page 39

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that the Colony should not be milked to pay for its defence

when so much needs to be done to provide better living stan-

dards and improved social services.

4. The new agreement will need to take account of the

increase in size of the post-1971 garrison, made necessary

because after that date it will no longer be possible for the

garrison to be supported or reinforced from Singapore.

increases in strength, as approved by DOPC in May 1968, are

set out below:

The

Present Garrison

Post-1971 Garrison

NAVY

3 Coastal Minesweepers

ARMY

63 Major Army Units

5 Coastal Minesweepers 2 Frigates

73 Major Army Units

RAF

6 Whirlwind Helicopters

to be increased to 10 in April 1970).

10 Whirlwind Helicopters

5.

In approving these force

levels Ministers decided to

defer consideration of where the costs should be borne pending

a full assessment of the cost of our commitment in Hong Kong.

It was nevertheless clear that the Ministry of Defence were

expecting their votes to be reimbursed to the extent of not

less than the full budgetary cost of forses attributed to the

internal security role of the garrison.

6. When the Defence Secretary visited Hong Kong in June,

1969, the Governor suggested to him that as a first step in

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