TNAG-0476-FCO40-541-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 166

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B)

Five-Power Defence Arrangement The arrangement does not commit the United Kingdom to maintaining forces in the Singapore and Malaysia area, but it does commit HMG to consultation in the event of an external threat. In practice, sizeable forces are at present maintained in or regularly deployed to the area.

Functional Cost:

1973/74

£13m

Annual Average 1978/9-1983/4

£15m

C) Brunei One Gurkha battalion is stationed in Brunei as an earnest of HMG's interest in the external defence of the state. Under the 1971 amending Agreement with the Sultan (who pays the cost of the battalion) the United Kingdom is committed to consultation in the event of an external threat and to the conduct of Brunei's external relations.

Functional Cost: NIL

D) Gan Gan provides an assured staging airfield for aircraft en route to Hong Kong, and is also an important link in contingency plans for the reinforcement of certain dependent territories.

1973/74

Functional Cost:

£4m

Annual Average 1978/9-1983/4

£4m

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to it

E) [British Indian Ocean Dependent Territories The UK is of course committed to the defence of these dependent territories, but at present no specific forces are required for this purpose. Of these territories, the Seychelles is likely to become independent in the relatively near future. This will end the commitment unless a defence agreement is concluded with the independent government. Under the British Indian Ocean Territory Agreement with the US of 1966, they ar The islands of BIOT (none of which have permanent inhabitants) are a more permanent)

available to meet the possible defence needs of the UK and the US. There are valuable facilities on the island of Diego Garcia, which are shared with the Americans, who pay for them.

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