TNAG-0478-FCO40-543-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 66

GRES 250 IMMEDIATE

LYPHER CAT A

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TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TELNO 835 OF 25 SEPTEMBER, 1974

YOUR TELNO 953: DEFENCE REVIEW

PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM WATSON.

A

PABD

1. MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ON QUESTIONS YOU RAISE IS CONTAINED IN EXCLUSIVE SIGNAL FROM CDS TO CBF HONG KONG DATED 23 SEPTEMBER,

2.

''SOMEWHAT REDUCED LEVEL" MEANS A DEFINED GARRISON STRENGTH BASED ON 6 AND TWO THIRDS TEETH UNITS, INVOLVING ESTIMATED SAVING OF £4 MILLION ON PRESENT OVERALL COST OF £42 MILLION, CBF IS REQUESTED IN CONSULTATION WITH YOU TO ADVISE ON POSSIBILITY OF FURTHER SAVINGS IN CERTAIN AREAS (INCLUDING GURKHA CONTENT OF GARRISON).

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3. ON REINFORCEMENT, MINISTERIAL DECISION WAS SIMPLY THAT A REINFORCEMENT CAPABILITY SHOULD NOT BE MAINTAINED, IF IN PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES H.M.G. WERE NEVERTHELESS TO DECIDE THAT HONG KONG SHOULD RE REINFORCED, THE NECESSARY FORCES WOULD HAVE TO BE REDEPLOYED FROM NATO OR OTHER TASKS, AND THE DELAY WOULD DEPEND AMONG OTHER THINGS UPON POLITICAL EASE OR DIFFICULTY THAT MIGHT BE FOUND IN NEGOTIATING. A ROUTE. THE MOD'S GUESS WOULD BE THAT TO GET AN ADDITIONAL BATTALION TO HONG KONG COULD IN THE WORSE CASE TAKE UP TO THREE WEEKS BUT THEY HOPE IT WOULD BE LESS.

4. CBF HAS BEEN ASKED TO REPLY BY 1 OCTOBER. WE SHOULD LIKE YOUR VIEWS ON TACTICS IN COURSE OF NEXT WEEK.

CALLAGHAN

FILES

HD HKIOD

COPIES TO

SIR D WATSON MR THOMSON

MR HOCKADAY MOD MR SMITH

CABINET OFFICE

HD DEF D

PS

MR WILFORD

PS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS MR MALE

PS/PUS

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