TNAG-0478-FCO40-543-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 134

Hel

SECRET

4

IMMEDIATE

GR..210

DESKBY 2900017

DE DIP

CYPHER/CAT A

FM F C O 281925Z

DEDIP

SECRET

DESKBY 290001Z

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No. 51

30 AUG1974

AKK 10/9

Fet

NEXT

REF

(87)

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TELNO 746 OF 28 AUGUST, 1974

STRICTLY

STRICTLY PERSONAL FOR ACTING GOVERNOR.

MŰ YOUR TELNO 862, DEFENCE REVIEW.

1. THANK YOU. MAINTENANCE OF THE TWO BATTALIONS AT THEIR MORTUN

MANNING STRENGTH COULD BE AN IMPORTANT FACTOR I GETTING

MINISTERIAL AGREEMENT TO OPTION 1A (SEE ALSO PARA 3 BELOW)

2. YOUR PARA 3. EFFECT OF MOD REVISION IS TO RAISE POSSIBLE COST

OF OPTION 1A TO £4ØN (SUBJECT TO THE 19 PERCENT MARGIT OF ERBOR ON EITHER SIDE). UNLIKE THE £38M FIGURE IN YOUR TELEGRAM WIDER

REFERENCE IT COSTS THE TWO BRITISH INFANTRY BATTALIONS AT FULL, STRENGTH, THUS ADDING £1.4M TO THEIR COST AND REDUCING THE SAM

FIGURE FOR ECONOMIES. THE REMAINING £2.6M OF ECONOMIES 13 MADE UP (AS IN GENERAL BRAMALL'S PAPER) AS FOLLOWS:-

OTHER ARMY SAVINGS

RN

£1.3H

£9.5M

RAF

£0.3M

WORKS SERVICES

£0.5M

SECRET

13.

་་་་

85A