TNAG-0541-FCO40-636-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 90

$

RECEIVED

REGISTRY No.52

-4 JUL1975

PKK 10

Our reference: D/DS8/39/22/102

Your reference:

SECRET

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

Main Building, Whitehall, LONDON SW1A 2HB

Telephone:

01 - 218

6592

(Direct Dialling)

01 - 218 9000 (Switchboard)

3

3rd July 1975

(203)

PL O'Keefe Esq

Hong Kong and Indian Ocean Department Foreign and Commonwealth Office

SW1

Dear O'Keefe,

LAST

REF

174

NEXE

REF.

NO. 117 SIGNALS UNIT

I am now in a position to reply to your letter of the 6th June.

We have been clear throughout that there is no longer any UK or US intelligence requirement for the radar at Tai Mo Shan. The only issue outstanding was whether the US Commander in Chief Pacific (INCPAC) required surveillance facilities for flights by some of his aircraft (although, as you will appreciate, would not of itself require RAF operation of the radar).

even this

We have been told within the last few days by the Americans that CINCPAC's requirement is no longer valid. We can proceed therefore from the basis that no military requirement for the operation of this radar now exists, only a civil requirement.

That being so, the only questions at issue now are

a.

b.

who is to continue to operate the radar?

will the USAF continue to provide spares and maintenance?

On the first point, while we accept the Hong Kong civil aviation authorities' requirement for this radar cover until their own new radar can be provided in some two years time, we cannot accept on the Defence Budget the cost of continued operation. The closing down of 117 SU was one of the economies specifically allowed for in the Defence Review. Since then, as you know, the Defence Budget has suffered further cuts and I am afraid that, relatively small as it may appear to be, we see no case whatsoever for foregoing this economy on which we have counted.

SECRET

SECRET

/I

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