TNAG-0476-FCO40-541-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 225

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CONFIDENTIAL

Force Deployments

In support of the FPDA the UK maintains an Infantry Battalion

and supporting units, up to 4 Nimrod Aircraft, a squadron of Wessex

helicopters and a frigate permanently based in Singapore. There afe

also to be regular visits to the area by the RN group East of the

Cape. Australia and New Zealand also maintain forces in the area.

A note on the present and future organisation of these forces is

attached.

We

6. In Brunei we maintain a Battalion of the Gurkha Brigade under

British command and control (but at the expense of the Sultan).

also contribute Loan Service Personnel, including the Commanding

Officer, and give indirect support to the Sultan's own force, the

Royal Brunei Malay Regiment.

7. The possibility of reducing these British forces in the Far

East is to be examined in the forthcoming defence review.

However

the contractual obligations described in paras 2 and 3 above to

our Commonwealth partners in the FPDA and to Brunei must be

considered in their political context as well as in relation to the

level of defence expenditure which the country can sustain.

Consultation

8.

Both the FPDA and the Brunei Agreement envisage that there

will be consultation, with appropriate notice, if any of the

partners wish to seek changes. The Five Power partners all accept

that the Arrangements will not last for ever but all have agreed

hitherto that they make a valuable contribution to stability and

political confidence in the area. The New Zealand Government have

already informed us that they attach great importance to continuing

British participation in the Five Power Arrangements and greatly Hope

that no changes will be made. If any modification to our attitude

is envisaged, they hope that they will be fully consulted in advance.

We have not yet had representations from the other partners but

CONFIDENTIAL

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