TNAG-0480-FCO40-545-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 193

Channel Commands; and in the defence of the United Kingdom and its

immediate approaches. We shall also maintain the effectiveness of

our Polaris force.

40

We shall however be discussing with our NATO allies reductions

in our contribution elsewhere and particularly in the specialist

reinforcement forces we committed to the Alliance in 1968. We

propose to reduce these to:: one airportable Brigade group and one

Royal Marine Commando group, with the necessary offensive and

supporting air elements, for use in the Central Region or Northern

Flank of NATO only. We propose however to maintain our

contribution to the Allied Command Europe. Mobile Force.

5. The priority we are giving to our NATO contribution necessarily

requires a measure of contraction in our commitments outside the

Alliance. We have reviewed these commitments case by case

case,,

bearing particularly in mind the decisions taken by the Labour

boaring particularly

in

Government in 1968. We shall of course maintain our obligations

towards our remaining territories. There will however be

'consultation with the Hong Kong Government about the level of

forces appropriate in the present circumstances and about how the

ms and them cost of these forces should be divided between ourselves and the

Hong-Kang Government when the present cost sharing agreement runs