TNAG-0476-FCO40-541-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 185

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D) The loan of British Service personnel to the Gulf States could be terminated but the efficiency of security forces in countries providing 30% of our oil supplies would be significantly impaired; defence sales contracts worth over £190 m could be affected and there would be little saving.

E) Withdrawing the Military Advisory Team from Sharjah (at a saving of £311,000) should present no problems. There would be no timing or consultation problems.

F)

British/Iranian naval exercises could be cancelled

but Iran would object and defence sales contracts worth £300 m could be affected. Naval visits per se could be dropped without consultation: the cost is minimal.

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