- Fitm
SECRET
ANNEX A TO BRIEF NO HK 8
THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S TOUR OF THE FAR EAST
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1973
REPRESENTATIONS BY HONG KONG AS TO THE FUTURE
OF THE ARMOURED STOCKPILE
Reaction by CBF Hong Kong
1. When CBF was informed by CDS that the Centurion stockpile
was to be withdrawn without replacement in mid-1973, he asked
if the matter could be reconsidered.
However if this could not be
done, he asked for a Scorpion stockpile to replace the Centurions
and in addition, for 2 of the Swingfire Ferrets due for final
withdrawal in 1976, to be retained after that date in the
operational war maintenance reserve.
2. On 28 July CDS confirmed that it would not be practical to
retain the Centurion stockpile, nor would it be possible because
of finance and manpower shortages to replace the present stockpile
with Scorpions. However he did say that the possibility of
retaining 2 Swingfire Ferrets after 1976 would be investigaged.
CBF replied, saying that the Governor was not happy about the
situation and would like to call and discuss it on 8 September
while on leave in London.
The Hong Kong Case
3. The Hong Kong case for maintaining a tank stockpile of some
sort rested primarily on 3 factors:
8.
New HOLF Assessment of the Threat to Hong Kong. HQLF
Hong Kong have produced a paper presenting their view of the
most likely military threat to the Colony. They suggest there
is now an additional threat in that Kuang Tung Province, their
immediate neighbours, might break away from Peking and under
the leadership of a military warlord, annex Hong Kong. A new
JIC assessment is being made to see if this view is valid, but
CDS pointed out in his last letter to CBF that it could not in
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.