TNAG-0478-FCO40-543-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 105

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Mr Thomas, SWED Mr Hickman, SWPD Mr Chalmers, SAD

Mr Ewans, EAD

Mr Wright, MED

Mr Carless, LAD

Mr Preston, Caribbean Dept

Mr Cox, WIAD

cc Mr Edmonds

Mr Elliott

Mr McLaren, WOD

Mr Stuart, HKIOD

Mr Goodison, SEED

RECEIVED

REGISTRY No.52 16 SEP 1974

NXK 19/9

DEFENCE REVIEW: NON NATO COMMITMENTS

1. As some of you already know, the Cabinet Office are recommending to OPD Ministers that at the OPD meeting on 18 September, Ministers should not only consider further the question of the Critical Level for future defence spending in relation to our NATO commitments, but should also reach firmer decisions than they have so far done on recommendations in the Steering Committee's report (OPD 74 (23)) on commitments in the Mediterranean and other parts of the world. The object would be to enable officials to work out more precise UK plans than are contained in OPD 74 (23), as a basis for consultations with our allies after an election.

2.

Ministers have of course already taken broad decisions on Cyprus and Hong Kong and it is not expected there will be any further discussion of these. Briefs for the Secretary of State will however be required on:-

Brunei

Five Power Defence Arrangements Gan

Mauritius

Oman

Malta

Gibraltar

Caribbean generally, especially

Belize and the Falkland Islands

very

The briefs will need to indicate briefly and broadly whether in the FCO view we should retain, reduce or abandon these various commit- ments, and if so, in what time scale, in the light of the recommendations in OPD 74 (23) and such discussion as there has

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