TNAG-0536-FCO40-631-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 56

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to be par fenum Beard.

SECRET

UK EYES A

The couting of the reduced carpijon.

་་

4. A summary of the estimated costs of the reduced "garrison

had been made available to the Hong Kong Government on

December 1974. A copy is at Annex D. During the visit detailed

figures supporting the summary were provided to Hong Kong;

supplied

and much aduitional information was provided in response to

their questions. This material is shown at Annexs E and F.

Arrangements were made for any further factual information

requested by Hong Kong to be supplied by CBF HK, consulting

MOD as necessary.

5.

Throughout the aiscussions the liong Kong representatives

made clear their view that, if in future Hong Kong's financial

contribution to the cost of the garrison was to be expressed

as a proportion of the whole, particularly if a proportion

exceeding 50% were proposed, the consent of he unofficial

members of the Executive and Legislative Councils (UMELCO) could

not be expected without justification of the cost and size of

the proposed garrison in fullest detail.

The issues.

6.

Three main issues underlay the discussions:-

(a) The size and cost of the garrison

The present ganison of

1 Hong Kong consists of

1 63 Teeth wim unit's (including

2 British infantry battalions

1 British Arlieeery regiment and I British armoured

squadron), I frigales, 5 patrol croft and I squadron of RAF Wessex Relicopters. 91- cost's about 2 sema

year (Entretien 197912g prices)

September 1974

1)

SECRET

arm

A reduced garrison comprising 53 Army teeth/units

Britisk

British

(including 1 infantry battalion and 1 UK artillery

battery), 1 frigate and 3 patrol craft, and 1

squadron of RAF Wessex helicopters, and with no

assured rapid reinforcement, had been proposed by

CBF, with the concurrence of the Governor, as the

minimum force capable of uischarging the internal

security task in Hong Kong and had been endorsed by th

Chiefs of Staff(1). The average annual cost of this

force (excluding extra costs, other than extra works

costs, arising during; the transition from the present

A