TNAG-0542-FCO40-637-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 123

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4. REINFORCEMENT. THE MARCH WORKING PARTY, IN THE CONTEXT OF A REDUCTION FROM THE ''PREFERRED'' GARRISON TO ONE COMPRISING 4 1/3 MAJOR UNITS, COMMENTED (IN PARAGRAPH 48) ON THE NEED FOR ''AN IMPROVED REINFORCEMENT CAPABILITY'' AND (IN PARAGRAPH 57) ON **A REINFORCEMENT, IN AN EMERGENCY INVOLVING ALL THREE AREAS OF POLITICAL DISTURBANCES, IN ADVANCE OF A POSSIBLE BATTALION FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM.'' THIS WAS SPELLED OUT (FOR A 4 2/3 GARRISON)

IN PARAGRAPH 39B AS ''A REINFORCEMENT BATTALION.... IN LESS THAN

THE 3 WEEKS NOW ENVISAGED, WITH PREFERABLY SOME FURTHER REINFORCEMENT CAPABILITY AVAILABLE IF REQUIRED.'' GRATEFUL IF YOU

WOULD TELEGRAPH WHAT IS TO BE SAID TO UNOFFICIALS ABOUT THE

REINFORCEMENT CAPABILITY,

5. DRAFT MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.

WE HAVE AN AGREED DRAFT AS A FRAME-WORK FOR THE NEXT D C A. AS THE DRAFT WAS AD REFERENDUM IT WILL BE OPEN TO UNOFFICIALS TO SUGGEST CHANGES, THOUGH I HOPE THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN. IF IT DOES WE WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT DURING THE NECOTIATIONS SOMEHOW, MEANWHILE GRATEFUL FOR CONFIRMATION YOU ARE NOT CONTEMPLATING

ANY CHANGES FROM YOUR SIDE.

6. STATEMENTS OF WORKING PRINCIPLES,

WE SHALL NEED, AS FOR THE PRESENT D C A, A STATEMENT OF WORKING PRINCIPLES ON THE WORKS PROGRAMME, SETTING OUT AGREED PROCEDURES

FOR THE DETAILED GUIDANCE OF PS A AND P W D. IN ADDITION,

BECAUSE OF THE CHANGE FROM A CONTRIBUTION FROM HONG KONG TO A

POSITION WHERE WE SHALL BE PAYING AN INCREASED SHARE OF THE COSTS

AND BECAUSE OF THE MORE COMPLICATED FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS

ENVISAGED IN THE DRAFT MOU, WE SEE THE NEED FOR A SECOND

STATEMENT OF WORKING PRINCIPLES COVERING THE FINANCIAL AND

ACCOUNTING PROCEDURES, I SUGGEST BOTH DOCUMENTS SHOULD BE

TAKEN AS FAR AS POSSIBLE IN JOINT DISCUSSIONS IN HONG KONG

BEFORE MR RODGERS' VISIT, AND FINALISED WHEN THE D C A IS

SIGNED.

MACLEHOSE

FILES

COPIES TO

HKIOD(3)

MR THOMSON

DEFENCE DEPT

MR MALE

SWPD

PS

PS TO LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS

SIR D WATSON

3

SECRET

MR WARD DS 6 MOD

MR HANSFORD TREASURY

MR BRYARS CABINET OFFICE MR AGGLETON PSA DOE