TNAG-0476-FCO40-541-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 176

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CONCLUSION:

24.

BRUNEI

Any proposal to remove the Gurkha battalion would require us to review our general relationship with Brunei. Whether such a

review should be sought and, if so, how the Sultan should be approached on it would have to be considered separately.

GAN

24.

The future of Gan is bound up with the future of the East-about

route to the Far East, in which it constitutes an essential link.

Its future must therefore be considered in parallel with consideration of the future of the FPDA and support for the garrison in Hong

Kong.

25. If it were decided to withdraw the RAF station from Gan we

should need to give due notice to the Government of the Maldives. The withdrawal of the station would be unlikely to cause serious political problems with the Maldivians, but there would be economic issues to be discussed with them, eg how the economic effects of the loss of employment for the Maldivians who work on the base should be mitigated and whether the airfield should continue as a civilian airport for Maldivian use. They already have ideas of bringing tourist traffic into the Maldives through Gan.

DIEGO GARCIA

26. Since the facilities on Diego Garcia are paid for by the Americans, who attach great importance to them and are virtually sole users of them any decision about the island's future should be taken only in the very closest consultation with the Americans. We have the right to use the facilities on Diego Garcia without financial contribution except for actual operating costs. event of giving up Gan, we might well wish to make use of this advantageous arrangement.

BRITISH INDIAN OCEAN DEPENDENCIES

27. The 1966 Agreement is greatly valued by the Americans.

In the

It costs no money at present, and any withdrawal of or reduction in the British presence in the area should not result in any changes in it. However, since the Americans are concerned about the increasing Soviet naval presence in the Indian Ocean, if curtailment of our presence there is contemplated, it would be desirable to initiate discussions with the United States on the whole question of security in the area.

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