TNAG-0538-FCO40-633-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 42

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and no objections have been raised to the proposals.

Oman

8. The Sultan was appreciative of the proposal to make in

present circumstances no changes in the arrangements we have with

him. The US, to whom we disclosed our intention to withdraw

eventually from Masirah, strongly urged us to reconsider this. They have recently been told we think it right to continue to plan privately and without limiting our freedom of action by telling anyone else, on withdrawal when we judge the circumstances

will permit.

Mediterranean

9.

Malta. Mr Mintoff reacted encouragingly to the letter I

sent him on 3 December and which he read out in the Malta House

of Representatives that day. It was received warmly on both sides

of the House. We cannot discount the possibility of requests being

made in a year or two for additional assistance to Malta, but

Mr Mintoff has said his aim remains that Malta should be economically

self sufficient by 1979 when the Military Facilities Agreement

expires.

10.

Cyprus. Following the bilateral consultations with the US

in November, Dr Kissinger was told in a message from the Secretary

of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs that we would not

in present circumstances proceed with our preferred policy of

withdrawing from the SBAS altogether, although we would be

embarking almost at once on a run down of our forces there. Proposals and a timetable for an early reduction in force levels

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