DS11/1/1/3/4
po 6 (Mr Ward)
Copy to:
DES(P)
AUS(D Staff) AUS(GS) SECCOS I of DP()
Head of DS 4 Head of DS head of F1(A
DN Plans
SECRET
SECRET
MO 2
Air Plans 2
DDAQ
DS (Mr Jones)
FOC.
HKIOD
FCO: SWPD
Da A
23/1x 288
RECEIVED IN
REGISTRY, No. 50
23 SEP1975
WICK (0)
Treasury: In Hausford PSA: Mr P Ageleton
280
HONG KONG
In your minute of 19th September, reference D/DS6/46/66/1, you raised the question of what should be said about reinforce- ment capability to the Hong Kong unofficials during the forth- coming financial negotiations.
2. As far as our interests in Brunel are concorned, the less we say the better. I agree that we should not reveal the planning date for the withdrawal of the Gurkha battalion from Brunei. If we did so, we would not only give the Sultan a further opportunity to prolong our negotiations with him but also invite the question of what happens after mid-1978. Pui the emphasis in the formula suggested in your paragraph 6 seens slightly too defensive, and night create the jupression that we night in certain circumstancen be prepared to continue station- ing a battalion in Brune during the whole period of the Hong Kong cost-sharing agreement.
3. It might be better simply to say that, as we announced in the Defence Review, subject to consultations with the Sultan, we propose to withdraw the Gurkha battalion from Brunei. These consultations are not vst complete and we cannot therefore speculate about when the battalion will be withdrawn;; in the meantine we are conducting the cost-sharing negotiations on the basis of a garrison in Hong Kong of 44 major units, and Hong Kong is being asked to pay 75% of the cost of this garrison rather then % of whatever size garrison might be stationed in Hong Kong after the withdrawal from Brunei.
22 September 1975
SFCKET
SECREA
21
RL FACER
Head of DS 11 ME7358 3107MB · мод
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.