TNAG-0536-FCO40-631-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 72

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13.

bi

A reduction to £35M:

(1)

Removing the remaining UK battalion and the single UK artillery battery (costed as an 8 gun battery) leaving only the equivalent of 21 companies, or

(2) Removing the Frigate (but adding back a fourth Patrol Craft), removing a Gurkha battalion and a UK artillery battery, and substituting one UK Engineer Squadron for the two Gurkha Engineers Squadrons. would leave only 19 companies.

This

The cost could be even further reduced to approximately £32M as follows:

(1) Removal of either the frigate or all 3 patrol craft, removal of the remaining UK infantry battalion and also a Gurkha battalion. This would leave only 17 Companies.

(2) Again removing the frigate but adding a fourth patrol craft and remaining UK infantry battalion and the Artillery Battery. This would leave 21 Companies.

The Secretary for Security asked if a Garrison consisting of 5 2/3 Gurkha major units had been considered. The Ministry of Defence UK Team reminded the Hong Kong Government that this would only reduce the number of UK servicemen by about 600 men and thus would only achieve a further reduction of only about £21 ie, a Garrison of between £38M £39M.

14.

Col GS ASD 2 explained the possible implications which would have to be considered of having an all Gurkha teeth arm force. These included the possible attitude of Nepal, the effects on the Gurkha soldiers themselves, the adverse effect on the loss of overseas opportunities for UK servicemen and considerations which might arise directly or indirectly on the final size and number of UK infantry baltalions whichremain in the Army,

H

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