TNAG-0476-FCO40-541-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 159

IMMEDIATE CYPHER/CAT A

GRS 170

FM FCO 241555Z

RESTRICTED

RESTRICTED

RESIVED IN

25

RG TY No. 51

APR 1974

(HK)

DESK BY 250001Z

74

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TELNO 387 OF 24 APRIL, INFO BTC HONG KONG.

DEFENCE REVIEW AND HONG KONG.

APRILL

1. THE PRESS AND THE D B C HAVE BEEN HEADLINING STORIES, IN THE CONTEXT OF MR MUUTOFF'S CURRENT VISIT TO THE UK, OF OUR ALLEGED INTENTION TO WITHDRAW FROM MALTA AS A RESULT OF THE DEFENCE REVIEW.

THE B B C SUGGESTED' THAT THIS INTENTION ALSO EXTENDED TO CYPRUS AND

SINGAPORE, HONG KONG HAS NOT GENERALLY BEEN MENTIONED EXCEPT IN THE

FINANCIAL TIMES WHICH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING PASSAGE IN A REPORT BY

PHILIP RAWSTORNE ON 24 APRIL:

2. QUOTE THE DEFENCE MINISTRY BELIEVES IF CUTS ARE TO BE MADE THEY SHOULD BE OUTSIDE THE EUROPEAN THEATRE. SENIOR OFFICIALS SUCGEST THAT

THE BRITISH ROLE IN HONG KONG COULD BE SAFELY CUT TO THAT OF AM

INTERNAL POLICE FORCE AND THAT THE PRESENCE IN SINGAPORE COULD BE

RADICALLY REDUCED SINCE SINGAPORE IS NOT SUBJECT TO ANY IMMEDIATE

EXTERNAL THREAT UNQUOTE.

2. THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE ARE SAYING THAT THE DEFENCE REVIEW HAS

ONLY JUST BEGUN AND WILL NOT BE COMPLETE FOR SOME MONTHS. ALL THESE

STORIES ARE PURE SPECULATION AND NO DECISIONS HAVE BEEN TAKEN.

CALLAGHAN

FILE S

HKIOD

DEFENCE D

SWID

NEWS D

PS

PS/PUS

PD/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS

MR YOUDE

MR THOMSON

MR WILFORD

COPIES TO:

DS 6 MOD DS 11 MOD

RESTRICTED