TNAG-0479-FCO40-544-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 153

(c) The Ministry of Defence would aim to make

available to the Hong Kong Government and to

CBF Hong Kong as soon as possible after the end

of November 1974 a detailed estimate of the costs

of the reduced garrison for the five years from

1976/77 onwards on a year by year basis and at

September 1974 prices. This estimate would

still be subject to qualification and later

amendment, since

(i)

(ii)

the rundown plan at present being

prepared by MOD and CBF Hong Kong

would not be completed and approved

until early 1975;

in consequence a final costing of the

logistic support and of the works

programme, and of the other elements,

would not be possible in November:

but it was hoped that sufficient

progress in planning would have been

made to allow reasonably reliable

estimates to be made;

(iii) some elements of the costing, e.g.

of the provision of both UK and

Gurkha airlift, were still under study,

which might not be concluded until

after November.

(a) The figure of £31M made no allowance for the

capital cost of replacing the Hong Kong patrol

craft: appropriate allowance would be included

in the detailed costing at (c), which would show

separately significant equipment capital costs

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