TNAG-0476-FCO40-541-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 152

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Flag

16/2/1971

HKK 10/9

SECRET

PS/Lord Gofonwy-Roberts

Getonwy-Rob

PS/Mr Ents

Pearlay of

Mfile of state

Lud Gamay- Roberts has

see magoed.

7s. Calmelly

PS lette to isun NS.D

MP's LETTER:

Problem

1.

8/

BRITAIN'S COMMITMENTS TO HONG KONG

Itali

Sliqul

川

ателним

1E815

Sir Anthony Royle has written to the Secretary of State,

asking for his personal confirmation that two recent answers by

Mr Ennals concerning Britain's commitments to Hong Kong represent

firmly the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

Background

2. In the House on 27 March and again in answer to a written

question on 1 April, Mr annals reaffirmed Britain's commitments

to Hong Kong and the intention not to withdraw from the Colony.

In the political sense that there is no intention to withdraw

from the administration of Hong Kong in the foreseeable future,

this is certainly true and is no more than a continuation of the

policy of all previous governments.

3. Even in the sense of complete military withdrawal it is also

almost certainly true, since our administration of Hong Kong

could hardly be maintained without a garrison; nor would

confidence in the Colony survive such a withdrawal. But the

Ministry of Defence do not want, at this stage of the Defence

Review, to forswear finally any military options at all;

certainly do not now want to rule out the possibility of

advocating some readjustment of the Hong Kong garrison, when

the Defence Review is completed.

and they

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14.