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and CDS are at Annex A. The matter was resolved at this meeting
and the original plans for withdrawing the stockpile and re-equipping
the Garrison armoured reconnaissance squadron, will go ahead without
any change. The re-equipment of this squadron will see the present
Saladin armoured cars and Ferret scout cars, some of which are in the
reconnaissance role and some mounting Swingfire anti-tank guided
weapons, replaced between 1973-76. The re-organised squadron will
include:
...
b.
?
9 Scorpions (tracked vehicle with 76mm gun).
3 Strikers (tracked vehicle with Swingfire anti-tank
guided weapons).
8 Fox
(wheeled reconnaissance vehicle).
d.
5 Spartan
(tracked APC).
e.
1 Samaritan (tracked ambulance).
f.
1 Samson (tracked recovery vehicle).
Press Queries
4. You will wish to know that UPA London, on behalf of their Hong
Kong representative, enquired on 2 January why we keep tanks in Hong
Kong "...as
as the Colony is indefensible". HQLF Hong Kong confirmed
that no approach has been made to them on this subject.
5. A guidance telegram has been sent to Hong Kong suggesting that
CBF and the Governor now consider making public the information that
the stockpile is being withdrawn as part of a world-wide review of
the level of British Forces and the scale and type of their equipment.
Centurion, the tank currently stockpiled, is wasting out in the Army
as a whole, and the Garrison is to be re-equipped with more modern
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