TNAG-0542-FCO40-637-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 126

PRIORITY

GRS 210

CYPHER CAT/A

FM HONG KONG 16075ØZ

SECRET

SECRET

RIORVED IN

REGISTRY No. 51

16 SEP 1975

NICKIOL

TO PRIORITY F C O TELEGRAM NO 915 OF 16 SEPTEMBER.

DEFENCE COSTS (NAVY):

YOUR TELEGRAM NO 700.

REF.

276

290)

I AM MOST GRATEFUL FOR THE MINISTER'S DECISION TO POSTPONE THE DEPARTURE OF THE TWO PATROL CRAFT.

2. ALTHOUGH IT IS NOW PLANNED THAT THEY SHOULD LEAVE HONG KONG IN MID NOVEMBER, I ASSUME THAT THEY WOULD REMAIN HERE THEREAFTER IF IT IS DECIDED THAT FIVE PATROL CRAFT RATHER THAN A FRIGATE SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE STATIONED IN HONG KONG. WE ARE STILL CONSIDERING THE PROS AND CONS.

3. WHILE WE ARE ANXIOUS FOR AN EARLY DECISION TO PLAN THE DEPARTURE OF THE TWO CRAFT SO SOON AFTER THE TALKS BEGIN, ABOUT 29 OCTOBER, SEEMS UNREALISTIC.

4. THE ONLY PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT AS TO NAVAL STRENGTH WAS THE

JOINT UK/HK STATEMENT IN MARCH 1975 THAT SOME SMALL REDUCTIONS IN NAVAL STRENGTH AND SUPPORT WOULD BE MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PRESENT COSTS AGREEMENT. WE THEREFORE NEED SAY NOTHING ABOUT THE PATROL CRAFT UNLESS ASKED. IF WE ARE, I WOULD PREFER THE ANSWER TO BE THAT NO REDUCTIONS WILL BE MADE PENDING THE

CONCLUSION OF THE NEW DEFENCE AGREEMENT.

5. 1 SHALL BE TELEGRAPHING LATER IN THE WEEK ABOUT THE TIMING AND CONTENT OF A PRESS STATEMENT FOR ISSUE HERE ABOUT MR RODGERS' VISIT.

SECRET

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