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THE ANNUAL COST TO HMG AT CURRENT PRICES OF THE FORCES RESENTLY STATIONED IN HONG KONG, ASSESSED ON THE BASIS OF THE AMOUNT BY MITCH THE UK DEFENCE BUDGET WOULD BE REDUCED BY COMPLETE WITHDRAWAL AND SUBSEQUENT DISBANDMENT OF THE FORCES CONCERNED, IS:-
RN (FRIGATE, 5 PATROL CRAFT AND SUPPORT)
ARMY (6 2/3 TEETH ARM UNITS AND SUPPORT) RAF (8 HELICOPTERS AND SUPPORT)
POUNDS STERLING
MILLIONS
5.5
!
25.3
2.7
TOTAL
33.5
IN ADDITION, UNDER THE 1971 AGREEMENT, THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT
MAKES AN ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION OF ABOUT POUNDS STERLING 8.5 M
TOWARDS THE COST OF THE FORCES. THUS THE TOTAL COST OF THE
PRESENT FORCE LEVEL IS ABOUT POUNDS STERLING 42 M. A DETAILED
BREAKDOWN OF ALL STATIONING COSTS IS GIVEN IN M IFT.
5. MINISTERS HAVE ASKED FOR A FURTHER STUDY OF THE MINIMUM LEVEL
OF FORCES WE NEED TO RETAIN IN HONG KONG AND WHAT CAPABILITY, IF ANY, IS NECESSARY FOR REINFORCEMENT. THIS STUDY WILL NEED TO
BALANCE THE ALTERNATIVES OF SMALLER RESIDENT FORCES WITH A
REINFORCEMENT CAPABILITY, AND FORCES CLOSE TO THE PRESENT LEVEL BUT WITHOUT SUCH A CAPABILITY, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT COST, MILITARY
VIABILITY AND THE WISH OF MINISTERS THAT THE FORCES SHOULD BE PAID
FOR BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.
6. WE WOULD WELCOME YOUR EARLY ADVICE, IN CONSULTATION AS NECESSARY WITH C B F HONG KONG, ON THESE ALTERNATIVE FORCE CONCEPTS AND ON THE IMPORTANCE OF A REINFORCEMENT CAPABILITY. INFORMAL MILITARY
ADVICE HAS BEEN THAT WITHOUT AN ASSURED CAPABILITY FOR RAPID
REINFORCEMENT THE EXISTING FORCE LEVEL OF 6 AND 2/3 MAJOR TEETH ARM
UNITS IS OF THE ORDER REQUIRED: BUT THAT IF A REINFORCEMENT
CAPABILITY WERE RETAINED THIS COULD BE REDUCED TO 5 AND 1/2 (TOGETHER, IN EACH CASE, WITH APPROPRIATE SUPPORT). AT EACH LEVEL THERE WOULD ALSO BE 5 R N PATROL CRAFT AND 8 RAF HELICOPTERS, AGAIN WITH SUPPORT. WE WOULD WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS ON THESE FORCE
LEVELS: AND ALSO YOUR VIEWS ON ANY OTHER AREAS IN WHICH YOU
*f t
CONSIDER ECONOMIES COULD BE MADE. FINALLY WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR ADVICE ON THE LIKELY ATTITUDE OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT
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