TNAG-0478-FCO40-543-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 15

DEPENDENT TERRITORIES

Finally among Non-NATO Commitments we have had to consider

our responsibilities towards those remaining dependent territories

where we station forces.

Hong Kong

By far the largest of those, with by far the largest forces,

is Hong Kong. We maintain nearly 10,000 troops there, including

4,500 Gurkhas, for two main reasons. One is to deter incursions

from China, though we recognise that we could not defeat aggression

if it occurred. The second and more important is to help the civil

authority in dealing with internal security.

Large investments by Britain and other countries in Hong

Kong are at stake, and we have concluded that we must maintain a

garrison and a small naval force there, though we shall seek

economies where we can to bring the cost down from its present level

of £38 m. At the same time we shall press the Hong Kong Government

to contribute more to the cost than the £81 m. which they provide

at present.

As a further economy we shall give up the capability to

reinforce the Hong Kong garrison rapidly.

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