TNAG-0478-FCO40-543-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 95

Mr Hickman, SWPD Mr Stuart, HKIOD Mr Chalmers, SAD Mr Moore, CSAD Mr Neilson. EAF

Mr Thomas, SWED

Mr Clark, MED

Mr Carless, LAD

Mr Cox WIAD

Mr Preston, Caribbean Dept

Mr Elliott

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DEFENCE REVIEW: NON-NATO COMMITMENTS

I am grateful for the contributions for the Secretary of State's brief for the OPD meeting on 18 September. I have now incorporated these into the attached draft. I have taken the liberty of re-ordering some of the contributions in order to maintain a regular pattern for each section of the brief but I hope I have been able to do this without destroying the balance of any of your arguments or recommendations.

2. I have also taken the liberty of adding specific sugges- tions at the end of the sections on Belize and the Falkland Islands about the action which the Secretary of State might suggest Ministers might now call for. I hope these correctly interpret LAD's, Caribbean Department's and WIAD's intentions.

3. I should also draw attention to some slight changes in the section on Mauritius in the passage on the Indian Ocean since I circulated the earlier draft of this section.

4. I propose in the final version to add figures for the cost of the current, or proposed future. force leve s wherever this is possible. The brief will also need some further amendment to bring the descriptions of the Steering Committee's recommenda - tions into line with the Cabinet Office paper which I have just. received (copy attached). I should be grateful to know as soon as possible today whether you have any further amendments to suggest. Any suggestions for shortening each section would be particularly welcome.

Teddy Jacks

JE Jackson

Defence Department

16 September 1974

cc Sir D Watson

Mr Wilford Mr Larmour Mr Edmonds

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