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FORCE LEVELS IN HONG KONG
INTRODUCTION
4 Cap fol
Copy No 17 of /
Page No 1 of 19
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Total No of Pages 24
Eliii
6060 HQBF
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1. For more than 10 years the Hong Kong Garrison has comprised, on the Army side, five Infantry battalions, a squadron RAC, an artillery regiment and one or, more recently, two engineer squadrons. This is always described as 63 major units, although, in an IS situation, the Engineers would almost certain be engaged on specialist roles, and the artillery regiment can only produce three batteries. This would leave only 6 units for actual IS operations.
2.
The Royal Navy has for some time, in addition to a small shore establishment, been represented by a frigate guardship; although only recently has the guardship been based permanently in Hong Kong. Hitherto it was provided in rotation from the United Kingdom. The RAF is in support of the other two Services and an extension of their presence.
3. It is now necessary, because of economic restrictions, to subject this force level to a critical analysis. This must distinguish between the overall and generally accepted (1) desirability of keeping a significant British military presence in Hong Kong, and the precise size and composition of the force which will be needed to carry out specific and strictly relevant tasks in a contemporary situation.
AIM
4. The aim of this paper is to determine the minimum force levels required in Hong Kong, and available as immediato reinforcements, to counter the likely threat to security and to maintain public and commercial confidence in the continuañce of the status quo, for the foreseeable future, and in the effectiveness of the security forces.
5.
THE THREAT
The threat is set out at Annex 'A' and can be summarised as follows. The security of Hong Kong can be threatened with or without the connivance of Peking and the threat may take the form of any, or any combination, of the following:
a.
Rioting and urban terrorism.
b.
Srosion of the integrity of the Border by deliberate affronts to Hong Kong's authority and perhaps by limited scale armed incursions.
(1) Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs affirmed in reply to a Parliamentary question of 29 Mes that PMG commitments to. and military presence in Hong Kong would
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