TNAG-0536-FCO40-631-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 148

SI/41/2/2

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SECRET

SECRET

RECENL REGISTRY N

LOOSE MINUTE

-7 JAN1970

D/DS8/39/8

DS6 Mr Ward

Copies to:

Air Plans 2

FCO: HK×10D (Mr Dinwiddy) (minus ends.)

никю

Last nu:

260

2

HONG KONG

Reference:

AUS(GS) 473/74 of 23 Dec 74

12

1. We spoke (Thatcher/Ward) earlier this week about the visit by AUS(GS)'s team to Hong Kong, and I mentioned that the future of 117 Signals Unit was a subject that might come up in the course of discussions. We have been considering with the FCO how best to broach with the Hong Kong authorities the withdrawal of this Unit: the attached copies of correspondence from DS8 give some background to the subject and indicate why it may need to be dealt with as early as possible.

2. We appreciate that it is not primarily to discuss such questions that the team is going to Hong Kong, and we are not attempting to impose on them an additional task. It is however quite likely that the future of 117SU will be mentioned at some stage, and it might be possible to get a preliminary indication of the Hong Kong authorities' reaction to the withdrawal. This would then give us a much clearer picture of how detailed negotiations will go, and of how and when they might best be initiated, We would be grateful therefore if the team

could be briefed on this subject and asked to try and elicit some response from the Hong Kong authorities if the occasion to do so arises.

2 Jan 75

Briefly direweed wild Mr Davies

in Hoy Kay,

and

I Love

D

todas written to Dawes

copying to 358.

IA

BD

15/1/75

SECRET

J. P. THATCHER

JP THATCHER

DS8

MB 7249 2638 MB

미

BU 10 days

8.3)

3/1/25