TNAG-0539-FCO40-634-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 101

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DEFENCE WHITE PAPER

CHAPTER I

THE DEFENCE REVIEW

THE REVIEW SO FAR

The Government's commitment

1. On 21 March 1974 the Government announced that it had

"initiated a review of current defence commitments and capabilities

against the resources that, given the economic prospects of the

country, we could afford to devote to defence" (House of Commons,

Official Report Vol. 870, No 13 WA Col. 154). The aim of this

review was to give effect to the Government's pledge to achieve

savings on defence expenditure of several hundred million pounds

per annum over a period while maintaining a modern and effective

defence system.

Background to the Review

2. In the 1968 Supplementary Statement on Defence Policy

(Cmnd. 3701) the Labour Government made clear its intention that

"Britain's defence forces, apart from those needed to meet certain

residual obligations to dependent territories.

be concentrated in Europe".

should

This remains the Government's firm

policy. But the Conservative Government's 1970 Supplementary

Statement on Defence Policy (Cmnd. 4521), while accepting that the

North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) should remain the first

I

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