TNAG-0536-FCO40-631-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 59

SECRET

"There ves criticism by the Hong Kong represent. alives of the apparently high capite cast of the patrol craft.

new

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UK EYES A

during the formal sessions is given in the following paragrapha.

Trimming the estimatea costs of the "reduced" garrison.

8.

The Hong Kong representatives accepted that the costs of t

"reduceù" garrison incorporated major economies in command

structure and in the support area. But they did not conceal

their belief that this process could be carried further.

The

UK team explained their reasons for believing that further

they rationalisation would not yield major economies. But/undertook to re-examine the estimated costs of two items (air trooping,

and the refit of the frigate MERMAID); they agreed in principle

that a joint examination should be made of possible greater

integration of defence and civilian medical and educational

organisations in Hong Kong (though of presentational value,

savings from this were not expected to be great): and they

pointed out that further savings might arise as a result of

and other detailed examination

UK The Hong-

normal establishment reviews/of the new, structure.

explained

Kong representatives accepted that total savings made possible

would be unlikely to bring by all these processes ee-la-not be guarentega to reduce the

average annual cost of the garrison significantly below £40M.

provision of reese

It was agreed that the capital cost of the new navel patrol

whose cost is

craft (which are outside this average figure see paragraph

6(a) above) should be set aside for separate consideration.

Removing from the costing elements not attributable to Hong Kong

9.

The UK team undertook to consider whether all or part of

the the costs of the JTS and/ Chinese Language School should be

and/Chinese

removed from the costing on the grounds that they served the

interests of the UK rather than liong Kong, and also whether

part of the cost of the Gurkha L of C (relating to the battalion

stationed in the UK) should be treated similarly. But it was

accepted that reductions on this account would be unlikely to

exceed £ M.

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UK EYES A

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