TNAG-0412-FCO40-458-First-Arts-Festival-of-Hong-Kong--26-February---26-March-197-1973 — Page 13

Our reference: 8010 HQBF

Your reference: D/DS15/508/86

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE Main Building, Whitehall, LONDON S.W.I

Telephone: halk 7002, BADK

01-930 7022 Ext 2495

Group Captain R J H Uprichard RAF Chief Staff Officer

Headquarters British Forces

Hong Kong

BFPO 1

( C

RECEIVED

9 August 1973

REGISTRATE: 20 TAS AUG 17S

19

Min Kelly

ба

Copy of Dar Ghon h

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Ser DP 42/~

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Dear

13/8

ра

HONG KONG FESTIVAL

1.

today.

TATTOO

Thank you for your signal 0903452 August which has reached me

2.

I promised to write to you in order to amplify the reasons for withdrawing the RCT Band and Corps of Drums, which had to be back in the UK by 6 December. We were advised that there are constant calls on accommodation on the scheduled trooping flights from Hong Kong and that there is a need

Ing the Brigado of Gurkhas staff band back from Hong Kong for Public Duties in London on 10 December which must have priority over any other participants from the UK for the journey from Hong Kong to UK. Faced with this, we had to conclude that thoro was roally no prospect of gotting the RCT Band back in time on a fill- up basis by scheduled trooping flight(s), particularly in view of the size of the party. There was also the additional factor that their instruments could not have accompaniod them on the trooping aircraft and, ovon with a Hercules training flight and sufficient spare seats on the trooping flight, we could not be sure that the training flight programme would get the instruments back by 6 December.

3. We looked into the possibility of sending an RM band but encountered similar problems, particularly as they had to arrive back not later than 4 December.

4. Faced with these difficulties, we had to conclude that the RAF offer provided the only real prospect of providing you with a band. A bid can be made for a Service airlift to move them on a duty basis in both directions and we should know by late September whether this has been successful.

5. Participation by the Motor Cycle Toam is, of course, still dopondent upon being able to arrange a training flight to lift the motor cycles and being able to airlift the team themsolves on a fill- up basis.

I have been advised that a special aircraft will not necessarily be laid on to carry the band.

Yours sincerely

Blade.