R Stat
des
Sir Duncan Watson
Duncan
сс
Mr Elliott
HKIOD
Defence Dept
SECRET
See subsequent
minto
As
36
GURKHAS IN HONG KONG
1.
At the PUS's meeting this morning the question of Gurkhas in Hong Kong arose, as you know. The Governor's remarks to the Secretary of State this afternoon put a rather different complexion on the situation since it was clear that what the Governor is worried about is any increased cost to the Hong Kong Government which HMG insist on as a result of the Defence Review. What the Governor has in mind is that the cost of Gurkhas to the MOD is less than the cost of British soldiers and therefore the more Gurkhas he has the less the total will be which Hong Kong is then asked to share. Thus far the Governor's point is a fair one. It is however true that there remains a substantial hidden "subsidy" in the shape of ODM money given in aid to Nepal.
2. But it emerged clearly from what the Governor said to Secretary of State that he would not accept an all Gurkha garrison in Hong Kong. This means that the idea of reducing the garrison to half or thereabouts is not compatible with the suggestion that the Gurkha Brigade (three battalions) should be retained. If all the Gurkhas are kept and in addition there have to be British soldiers also, a minimum of 4 or 5 battalions might seem to be the outcome - but this may be a great deal more than either HMG are prepared to provide or Hong Kong to pay for.
Mw.
W.
K M Wilford
24 June 1974
ве
But the Governor will be arguing for at least 4 23 as the minimum security agunement.
unt
SECRET
Dream Walth
25/6
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