TNAG-0476-FCO40-541-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 209

SECRET

It will also be necessary to consider the future of

British defence requirements in the area which are

primarily national in purpose, since the extent to

which cooperation on these will be forthcoming will

depend in part on how we handle the question of the

FPDA.

3. The FPDA, and specifically the commitment to

consult in relation to threats to Malaysia and

Singapore, was not intended as a response to any

defined military threat, but as a political

reassurance to our Commonwealth partners and to support

confidence and stability in the area. It has been

generally understood that the need for the arrangements

would not last for ever and that their value depends

largely on the continued willingness of Britain,

Australia and New Zealand to station forces there

while Malaysia and Singapore are developing their own

armed forces. It is now probable that in the Defence

Review it will be decided that the main British force

contribution should be removed. Australia has already

removed most of her ground forces, and will in due

course probably remove her air forces as well.

It

is doubtful, though not impossible, that New Zealand

would maintain ground forces in Singapore on her own

This makes it necessary to consider the future of the consultative commitment and whether (and if so

when) it should be brought to an end. We must bear

in mind that, even if the UK withdraw, the other partners might wish to continue the FPDA without

Britain.

SECRET

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