TNAG-0479-FCO40-544-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 133

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

5) Dd145178 400m 5/73 G.W.BILul. Gr.353

NOTHING TO SE WÄTTEN IN THIS MARGIN

continued denial it seems clear that it need not

involve British military presence on the Island.

bintoff was of course warned when he signed the

agrement that a (rogressive run down would any

start well before our final vithdrawal.

inve

to

22.

Cyrus is a more complex probler. Given our

for NATO wish to concentrate our effort in the critical arers }

there would be a strong case on defence grounds for

our withdrawing the British forces now on the 1s]: n.

It may be that the surrender of sovereignty over

our two bene aras in the Island could

i

Calalyht

Jes a 172

role in the working out of the long term political But we must tread wanly selle ent which we are now seeking. For the rompb

L

>

we shall for primarily political reasons, hold on

boph

to fire base areas and retain reduced forcen in

Squadrons

force L

them. (The permanent air force in Akrotiri vill be

withdrawn and will therefore no longer be decl to CENTO.)

continuelle

for no prescit 23. Finally in Omon we shall continue upport,

the Sultan in the lofar War, but shall reduce and

ozanbadly withdraw our direct assistance as roon

as the progress of the war, and the omanisation of

the Bultan's forces permit. We should of comge

continue to provide loan-service personnel as

lon as they are required.

Intelligence

24. There is one separate problem on which I should

perhaps touch. Our thinking abou' long long, Cern

end Cyprus may be of some particular interest in

Washington in viewof the intelligence which we

obtained in all three places and pool with yours.

There should be no difficulty about Hong Kong. 48 for

/Cran

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