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expected until 23 August and there will thus be no time for
detailed consideration of its contents before you leave for Hong
Kong, although a copy will be provided for your information, if
possible.
The Governor's preliminary view, conveyed to when he was in the UK. recently, was that while Hong Kong should be able to pay a higher proportion of the cost of a somewhat smaller force,
A paper on force levels, submitted by CBF HK in July, will
't is unlikely'
that this
Could be
be a useful source document for any further studies or military
much greater options in Hong Kong. This paper examines the roles of the forces in abrobate
terms than
against the background of the threat in its various forms:
about the present"
$8/2m. How Kory a parenti budget is at
present und..
I stain,
Rioting and urban terrorism.
b.
Erosion of the integrity of the border.
C.
â.
Mass illegal immigration from China.
A deliberate attack by China.
Mathanaty to pay for a greatly expanded trial programme which is thoughy supported by UK.
and assesses the scale and distribution of forces required to ministers, fulfil those roles.
Discounting the threats of an attack by China
as a justification for a particular permanent force level or scale
of reinforcement, CBF concludes that the minimum force level to
ensure prompt assistance to the police in an IS situation and,
at the same time, to meet a realistically limited threat along the
border is 5 battalions or equivalent; either an armoured
reconnaissance squadron or a close support battery; and 2 engineer
squadrons. This option, however, is entirely dependent for its
operational viability on the timely arrival of a reinforcement
battalion should simultaneous emergencies arise in the urban areas
and on the border. For presentational purposes, the level proposed
by CBF could be expressed as 5 units plus support and thus correspond
broadly with that postulated by the DSWP.
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