TNAG-0478-FCO40-543-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 109

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Treasury Chambers, Parliament Street, SWIP 3AG . Ipays ju

PRIME MINISTER

RECEI

IN

REGISTA

- 5 SEP 1974

01-930 1234

Mu. GROAD SEED.

PSIPIS

SEAD

Aur. Sivins,

HKIGD

DEFENCE REVIEW

du. Meloven. Ivuj. Mu. Thomas

SWED.

95

HKK 10/9.

I have seen a copy of the Foreign Secretary's minute of 23rd August to you commenting on my minute of 8th August suggesting that we should not delay

consultations with our non-NATO Allies about our

proposed reductions Fast of Suez and in the Mediterrancan.

2. No doubt there will be an opportunity to discuss this question further at the OPD meeting which I

understand has been planned for 9th September. Meanwhile

however I should like to make the following comments on the Foreign Secretary's minute.

3.

I am glad to note that he agrees to early consultations on Hong Kong and Cyprus; I also welcome

his view on the future of the Cyprus bases.

4. I am afraid however that I cannot go along with

him on the Five-Power Defence Arrangements and Malta. So far as the FPDA is concerned, we have already stated publicly that, in the course of the Defence Review, we shall be recalling the decision we took in 1968 that our forces should be withdrawn from South East Asia, and there have already been preliminary consultations with the other FPDA partners. I do not see the need for any further delay here, nor do I see why Diego Garcia should be a particular problem.

SECRET

15.

LAST

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