TNAG-0540-FCO40-635-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 11

Our reference: D/DS8/39/22/836 Your reference:

B H Dinwiddy Esq

SECRET

MINISTRY OF defence

Main Building, Whitehall, LONDON SW1A 2HB

Telephone:

01 - 218

6592

(Direct Dialling)

01 - 218 9000 (Switchboard)

Hong Kong and Indian Ocean Department Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Downing Street

Jew Drividy,

RECEIVED

REGISTRY No.52

16 APR 1975

15 April 1975

142

CLOSURE OF 117 SU HONG KONG AND CONTINUED PROVISION OF ATC FACILITIES TO KAI

TAK

We have now considered in considerable detail the question of continuing to provide air traffic control cover using the radar at Tai Mo Shan to back up the existing civil radar at Kai Tak,

I have discussed this matter with Air Commodore Stanton, following his return from Hong Kong, and in the circumstances, we are prepared to accept that the use of the radar at Tai Mo Shan would provide a desirable, extra area of cover for civil purposes. As we understand the matter, the radar at Tai Mo Shan will provide possibly an extra 50 miles range over that of the Type 264 radar now installed at Kai Tak. While this must be a matter of judgement we assume that you are satisfied also that this extra range is important and not merely desirable.

As you are aware, our present plans under the Defence Review are based upon the total closure of 117 SU in the second half of 1975. The savings thus to be made in personnel and money are important to us and no one has so far suggested to us that there are any convincing military grounds for continuing the existence in part or in whole of this Unit.

The continued operation of the search radar for civil air traffic control purposes would raise a number of serious difficulties In the first place, continued operation would require the continuance of an RAF party of 36 men, comprising 1 officer, 26 other ranks, 3 auxiliary policemen and 6 civilians. In the second place, the radar does not belong to the RAF, but to the USAF, and it would be necessary for the USAF to agree that the radar should remain for the civil task. In the third place, the supply of spare parts for this obsolescent radar is entirely in the hands of the USAF and it would be necessary to secure the Americans' agree- ment to these spare parts being continued for what would be a non-military use. It is by no means clear at the moment whether the USAF possesses adequate stores of spare parts to maintain this radar for another 2 to 2 years; or, if the USAF does not have adequate stocks, e whether it would be prepared to arrange for further spare parts to be manufactured in the United States.

SEORET

SECRET

/Lastly,