TNAG-0477-FCO40-542-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 59

SECRET

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London SW1

Mr Croozen

PA

BD 7/8

Telephone 01-

Captain J JR Oswald RN

ALCEIVED

Ministry of Defence

MB 7128

ISTRYN52 -7.AUG1974

NKKIO/C

Dour Tullium,

Since we spoke on Friday afternoon

Your reference

Our reference

Date 6 August 1974

I have been able to speak to the appropriate departments about the paper on force levels in Hong Kong which was circulated under cover of Care Perowno's minute of 19 July.

2. I understand the Governor has seen what is proposed but her yet to comment on it. and the general concensus of opinion hero is that it would be wrong for us to comment before the Governo. has had a chance to do so. May we therefore simply reserve our position until after Sir Murray Macl hose's views have been received?

3.

You may like to know unofficially our first reaction which is in the circumstances the Commander is making out a Case fo over-elaborate forces.

4. OPD have of course put back the ruestion of force levels to the Defence Review Steering Committee. We understand that at their meeting yesterday afternoon the Steering Committoe were asked to establish:

(i)

(ii)

minimum force level required to maintain internal security;

reinforcement level;

(iii) if the reinforcement capability were increased whether it would be possible substantially to reduce the force levol on (i).

5.

Our position remains that the minimum garrison necessary to maintain internal security of Hong Kong must first ho est blan after consultation with the Governor. The Steering Committ e'~ guidance has been sought as to when we may opprosch the Gove.mOS. Having once established the minimum garrison necessary ve muit. to persuade the Hong Kong Government to pay rs much of the code possible. OPD conclude that the Hong Kong Government should b pressed to meet the total cost of forces strtioned there; Wo do not regard it as realistic to suppose that they will in fact no so porsuaded.

SECRET

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