TNAG-0368-FCO40-414-Visits-of-UK-Government-Ministers-to-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 153

SECRET

SECRET

BRIEF NO HK 8

THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S TOUR OF THE FAR EAST

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1973

HONG KONG ARMOURED STOCKPILE

Present Arroured Organisation

1. Until June 1973 the armoured organisation in Hong Kong will be:

2. In 48 Gurkha Infantry Brigade.

squadron comprising:

5 Reconnaissance troops:

1 Support troop:

b.

In a Stocknile.

One armoured reconnaissance

equipped with Saladin armoured

cars and Ferret reconnaissance

and Swingfire anti-tank guided

.weapon scout cars.

equipped with a Ferret scout car

and Saracen APCs.

Centurion tanks for one armoured squadron

comprising:

14 main battle tanks

1 dozer tank

2 armoured recovery vehicles.

This stocknile has been re-activated periodically by a squadron

from the UK.

Future Plans Post-1973

2.

The

On 6 July 1972, CDS wrote to CBF Hong Kong informing him that,

as a result of LTC 1972, the stockpile of Centurion tanks would be

withdrawn after June 1973 and not replaced with Chieftain.

principal reasons for this were lack of Centurion-trained personnel

to keep re-activation of the present stockpile going after that

date and lack of money to provide Chieftains in lieu, which would

have cost about £2.01M.

3. CBF asked that the decision should be reconsidered and details

of the case put forward by Hong Kong to support their request,

together with details of a subsequent meeting between the Governor