TNAG-0537-FCO40-632-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 6

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

PQ 2011B

SUPPLEMENTARIES

1.

Why no air defences?

نه

У

Why keep forces there?

3. Ability to withstand determined attack?

4. Kong?

X

Why not give up Hong

The garrison's roles of preserving

the territorial integrity of the

colony and deterring border

violations do not require an air

defence capability.

If pressed]: An air defence

capability would only be relevant

to a situation involving a direct

assault, which happily appears to be

unlikely.

I dealt with this in the reply I

gave to my hon friend on January 8th

Hansard Vol 884 Col 1697.

The presence of the garrison,

particularly along the border, helps

to preserve the territorial integrity

of the Colony and deters any

violations of the border.

If pressed:The garrison contains

the occasional relatively minor

incursions but recognise that we

could not withstand a very large

scale assault, which happily appears

to be unlikely.

We administer the Colony in the

interests of the 4 million people

who have chosen to live there. We

have no intention of abandoning

Hong Kong.

15.

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