TNAG-0479-FCO40-544-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 174

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would be best not to challenge it too strongly.

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He might however, if the opportunity arises: -

(a) say that our Allies would in our judgement certainly prefer that further savings should be made through additional economies in the support area as mentioned in paragraph 4 of the OPD Paper rather than through changes in our front-

line capability.

(b) suggest the following amendments, which are largely designed to tone down some of the more extreme language:-

(i) In paragraph 3, line 3, the percentage figures should be "1 to 11%".

(ii) In paragraph 4, the first sentence should be revised to read:-

"If Ministers were to decide that these continuing

non-NATO commitments should be accepted within the financial provision for the Critical level, and that our military capability at the Critical level should accordingly be marginally reduced, the Ministry of Defence ..."

(iii) In paragraph 5, line 8, the words "guided weapons" should we assume be inserted before the word

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"development".

(iv) In paragraph 6, line 1, the word "still" should be omitted.

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(v) In paragraph 7, lines 4 and 5, the last phrase should read:-

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some further slight effect upon our military contribution to the Alliance."

(vi) Also in paragraph 7, the last sentence should either be omitted or combined with its predecessor and revised to read:

And