UR EYES B
DEFENCE REVIEW
At their meeting on 1 August (OFD(74)13th Meeting, item 1)
the Defence and Oversea Policy Committee agreed that there should
be no consultations with the Americans or with our other allies
about the defence review until the Committee had considered the
matter further.
2. At the same time they asked, among other things, for a further
stuly of the minimum level of forces we need to retain in Hong Kong
and what capability, if any, is necessary for reinforcing the
garrison. At a meeting on 5 August of the Defence Review Steering
Committee of officials under the chairmanship of the Secretary of
the Cabinet it was decided that exceptionally, in view of the status
of Hong Kong as a Crown Colony, the Governor of Hong Kong should be
consulted in the course of this study.
3. This consultation is in train as described in the attached
background note upon which you may wish to draw defensively if the
Governor or CBF HK should raise the Defence Review with you. The
Governor has, however, been consulted on a strictly personal basis
and enjoined not to extend his range of consultation at this stage
beyond CBF, the single Service commanders, and such of his own
senior official advisers as he thinks necessary. However you are
also likely to encounter widespread interest outside that circle.
The Governor's ability to obtain the maximum financial contribution
from Hong Kong will be affected if there is any premature hint that he has been consulted. The following speaking notes are therefore
provided for use with outsiders:
1
SECRET
SECRIST
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.