TNAG-0541-FCO40-636-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 157

3

SECRET

Foreign and Commonwealth Office London SW1

BE Robson Esq

DS8

Ministry of Defence Main Building

Whitehall1

Telephone 01-

Your reference

Our reference

Date

HKK 10/1

6 June 1975

174

Das Rabson.

117 SIGNALS UNIT

1.

I sent you a copy of my letter to Davies dated

23 April. I now attach a copy of his reply.

2.

Hong Kong consider it essential that the Unit should remain in operation for ATC purposes until new civil radar can be brought into service at Kai Tak, which will probably not be for at least another two years. They appear to be doing their best to meet requirements (c) and (d) set out in your letter of 15 April, but your requirements (a) and (b) present more difficulty.

3.

On costs, Hong Kong appear to have a fair point in arguing that they were under the impression that the Unit would remain in operation until 1980 at least, and that they should have been given longer notice of the proposed disbandment. In these circumstances, and although Davies has not pursued his earlier point that the Unit should be regarded as part of the Defence Review package, I would urge you to reconsider whether MOD can agree to meet the cost of continued RAF operation until 31 March 1976.

4.

Servicing and spares are also a problem. We should obviously be grateful for anything you can do to encourage the Americans to meet Hong Kong's requirements. I imagine that the RAF in Hong Kong are broadly aware of the nature of the difficulties which the Hong Kong Government are experiencing with the US Consulate- General there, but I can of course go back to Hong Kong on this if you wish.

In the last resort we could take the matter up through diplomatic channels, but I hope this will not be necessary.

'murs end. haurence

отве

PL O'Keeffe

Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept.

1

SECRET

cupy

૧

168 179 to Defence Dept,

023/6

& BU 2 weeks

BD

916