TNAG-0480-FCO40-545-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 131

GRS 470A

IMMEDIATE

CYPHER/CAT A

FM F C O 251830Z

DE DIP

SECRET

DESKBY 260100Z

LAST

REF.

SECRET

* F.

(220

214

TOP COPY

Pla

Abs 26/11

(HK)

TO IMMEDIATE GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELNO. 1939 OF 25 NOVEMBER.1974.

DEFENCE REVIEW.

1. THE CABINET HAVE DECIDED THAT THE PASSAGE ON HONG KONG IN THE

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT ON 3 DECEMBER WILL READ:

QUOTE WE INTEND TO KEEP OUR FORCES IN HONG KONG, ALTHOUGH WE PROPOSE TO MAKE SOME REDUCTIONS IN THEM AND TO SEEK FROM THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT A LARGER PERCENTAGE OF THEIR COST WHEN THE PRESENT

COST-SHARING AGREEMENT RUNS OUT IN 1976. UNQUOTE.

THIS WILL BE PRECEEDED BY WORDS TO THE EFFECT THAT WE SHALL

MAINTAIN OUR OBLIGATIONS TOWARDS OUR REMAINING DEPENDENT

TERRITORIES,

i

2. UNLESS YOU THINK IT WOULD BE BETTER TO WAIT UNTIL THE MEETING OF 3 DECEMBER, AND PROVIDED YOU ARE CONFIDENT THAT IT WOULD NOT LEAK, YOU MAY GIVE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL PRIOR WARNING ON 26 NOVEMBER ON THE STRICT UNDERSTANDING THAT NOTHING WHATEVER IS TO BE SAID IN PUBLIC UNTIL THE STATEMENT HAS BEEN MADE IN PARLIAMENT. TEXT OF WHOLE STATEMENT WITH ANY SUPPLEMENTARIES WILL BE

TELEGRAPHED TO YOU.

FINAL

3. IF ASKED WHAT THE STATEMENT IMPLIES IN THE WAY OF FORCE LEVELS AND CONTRIBUTION, YOU MAY IF YOU THINK IT HELPFUL, TELL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL THAT TECHNICAL MILITARY DISCUSSIONS ARE STILL COING ON ABOUT THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF FORCES. FOR THEIR OWN INFORMATION ONLY, AND NOT TO BE RELEASED EVEN WHEN THE MINISTERIAL STATEMENT IS PUBLIC, IT SEEMS LIKELY THAT THERE WILL BE A REDUCTION OF ABOUT ONE MAJOR UNIT IN THE PRESENT GARRISON, AND THAT THE RAPID REINFORCEMENT CAPABILITY WILL BE GIVEN UP.

THE AIM IS A FORCE WHICH IS FULLY CAPABLE OF MAINTAINING INTERNAL

SECURITY IN HONG KONG.

SECRET

14.