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Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force (RHKAAF)
43.
The RHKAAF, with a current strength of 3 Alouette helicopters and 2 fixed-wing aircraft, has an internal security capacity for observation and liaison. This provides some of the requirements of Folice and Departments of Hong Kong Government. Therefore, although they would be tasked under joint Service control, there is no overlap between the RHKAAF and the Wessex or the AAC helicopters.
OPTIONS
44. The Working Party examined various options in the region of £35M. Those which meet the essential elements are examined below. Their security implications are set out in each case. As regards the political implications, the options would not be expected to cause any reaction by the Chinese Government which would disturb the present Chinese relationship with Hong Kong and the United Kingdom. So long as it was satisfied that reductions did not involve an unacceptable dilution of HMG's will or inability to control the course of events in the Colony, the precise level of the garrison would not give the Chinese Government cause for concern though their local cadres might make some play with the reductions in order to enhance their own influence with the population.
45. The reactions of the Hong Kong population are harder either to foresee or to define in advance of consultations with Unofficial Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils. However, the Working Party was advised that, subject to this reservation, the business community - and particularly the expatriate business community - would be concerned at reductions of any sort and consequently would be more concerned at a reduction to a 4 2/3 unit garrison than a 5 2/3 unit garrison. But they are intelligent enough to realise that the safety of Hong Kong depends ultimately on an understanding with the CPG, and provided -
(i) they were assured that the remaining garrison was adequate, with a reinforcement capability, and
(ii)
Sino-UK relations remain good,
it is doubtful if their concern would be reflected in e. g. withdrawal of investments from Hong Kong. The bulk of the Hong Kong population will be angry that Hong Kong is being
18
G.F. 316
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