TNAG-0478-FCO40-543-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 70

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Hong Kong

3. British forces, totalling about 9,500 of all three services, are stationed in Hong Kong. Hong Kong is indefensible against determined attack by China.

But some forces are required there to support the Police in main- taining internal security and thus the confidence of the local population and to deter the Chinese from any lightly considered attack. Under a five-year agreement negotiated in 1971, the Colony contributes £84m annually towards the cost of the forces. Some reduction in the level of forces

is probably possible.

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