TNAG-0538-FCO40-633-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 26

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

SECRET 高度機密 308 2/62

SCR

Copy No. 12of 15 copies

NOTE OF A MEETING HELD AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE

HONG KONG ON 10.1.75

Present:

H.E. The Governor

Lt.Gen. Sir E. Bramall, Commander British Forces

Hon. D.T.E. Roberts, Colonial Secretary

Mr. L.M. Davies, Secretary for Security

Mr. C.L. Scobell, Royal Hong Kong Police Force

Mr. E.B. Wiggham, Finance Branch, Colonial Secretariat Mr. M.J. Lewis, Security Branch, Colonial Secretariat

U.K. Defence Review Team

Mr. J.D. Bryars, AUS (GS) MOD

Commodore B.C. Perowne, MOD

Mr. J. Hansford, Treasury

Mr. A.C. Stuart, F.C.O.

DEFENCE REVIEW HONG KONG

His Excellency stated that as a result of the Defence Review Team's visit the Hong Kong Government team now had further detailed figures on how the garrison is financed. Economies on the proposed £41 m. garrison had been considered these included :

JSIS

The Chinese Language School Air-trooping, and

the frigate refit

in addition the question of transitional costs, and income tax had been mised. However, though further examination of these items would proceed, it is unlikely that they will provide significant savings. Therefore it seems inevitable that, if the financial gap cannot be bridged by economies or a variation in the cost apportionment, consideration will need to be given to the garrison strength.

2.

Tentative and uninformed reaction of UMELCO members is that the garrison is currently too large. Whilst this view could be modified by careful briefing, there is some indication that UMELCO would be prepared to support a higher Hong Kong contribution if they were satisfied that the garrison had been cut to the absolute minimum that security required.

3 a The official opinion is that the "52/3 rds" garrison is the right size. If the 5 2/3rds garrison cannot be financed (and that appears to be the situation at present) consideration would have to be given to whether a garrison of less

G.F. 316

SECRET 高度機密

/than

So

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