TNAG-0477-FCO40-542-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 41

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Mr Wilford

HONG KONG:

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1.

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I attach a copy of a minute which I have just received from Mr Westbrook in Defence Department. It asks for our comments today on a draft by the Ministry of Defence on Force levels in Hong Kong. The draft is clearly based on the Commander, British Forces' paper which you saw about a week ago.

2.

Sir M MacLehose made it clear when he saw Sir D Watson on 9 August that he would probably not agree with the CBF's views on Force levels. He repeated his plea for a higher proportion of Gurkhas, and thought there could be other economies too. It was agreed at the meeting, which MOD and Treasury representatives also attended, that the Steering Committee should be asked to meet, probably on 13 August, to decide on a telegram to the Governor, formally seeking his views on Force levels. He took a copy of the CBF's paper with him, and undertook to reply within a week of getting the telegram.

3.

I have told Mr Westbrook that, subject to your views, I do not think we should comment on this MOD draft yet; but we should say that we shall wish to do so when we have the Governor's views on Force levels.

4.

I am sending you separately a copy of the record of the meeting on Friday between Sir D Watson, Sir M MacLehose, Sir G Arthur and MOD and Treasury representatives.

12 August 1974

R.M. horon

R B Crowson

Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Department

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