TNAG-0539-FCO40-634-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 102

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priority of defence policy, placed more emphasis on a willingness

to counter threats to stability throughout the world. So when

the Government came into office in March 1974 it inherited a defence

programme of world-wide political and military commitments, and

military forces stretched to meet those commitments.

3.

Within NATO Britain was the only European member to contribute

to all the major areas of the Alliance: to the Central Region in

Europe, to the Eastern Atlantic and Channel Command areas, to the

defence of the United Kingdom and its immediate approaches, to the

Mediterranean, and to the Alliance's strategic and tactical nuclear

deterrent. We were also contributing specialist reinforcement

forces available for deployment to the Central Region and to the

northern and southern flanks.

4.

Outside NATO Britain was maintaining forces in various parts

of the world: in dependent territories, including those where the

presence of British forces was necessary: Hong Kong, Gibraltar.

the Falkland Islands and Belize; in the Far East as a contribution

to the Five Power Defence Arrangements; and in a number of other

places, including Brunei, Mauritius, Gan, Diego Garcia, Oman, Cyprus

and the Caribbean. These commitments imposed upon Pritain an extra

burden which none of her European Allies and trading competitors

was bearing.

5.

Forward plans were designed broadly to maintain the existing

size and structure of the forces to provide the capabilities to

meet these commitments. The cost of these forces was bound to

increase progressively over time to keep pace with the constant

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