TNAG-0542-FCO40-637-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 190

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BEEN OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THE ALTERNATIVE OPTION OF 5 PATROL

CRAFT ONLY WOULD BE KEPT OPEN UNTIL WE COULD SEE THE FINANCIAL

IMPLICATIONS OF THE AGREEMENT AS A WHOLE. IN VIEW OF THE TERMS

OF YOUR TELEGRAM NO 593, PARA 1, PLEASE CONFIRM THAT OUR UNDER- STANDING IS STILL CORRECT.

5. ARTILLERY. AS PART OF THE RUN-DOWN TO THE ''PREFERRED GARRISON'' IT HAS ALREADY BEEN ANNOUNCED THAT THE ARTILLERY REGIMENT WILL BE REDUCED TO A SMALL ELEMENT FOR TRAINING PURPOSES ONLY. YOUR DECISION INVOLVES THE REMOVAL OF THIS ELEMENT ALSO. I DO NOT WISH TO CONTEST THIS, AND THE UNIT IS OF NO CONSEQUENCE FOR PUBLIC CONFIDENCE, ON THE OTHER HAND I UNDERSTAND C.B.F. HAS BEEN DEBARRED FROM INFORMING THE UNIT OF THE NEW SITUATION

BECAUSE IN THEORY FORCE LEVELS REMAIN TO BE SETTLED IN THE FORTHCOMING NEGOTIATION, I SUGGEST THAT IN THIS INSTANCE THIS RULING IS NOT REALISTIC AND THE INCONVENIENCE CAUSED TO THE REGIMENT UNNECESSARY. I WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF THESE ORDERS COULD BE CANCELLED IMMEDIATELY.

6. CAPITAL WORKS. A GOOD MANY OF THE PROJECTS ALREADY IN THE

PIPELINE WILL BE REQUIRED REGARDLESS OF THE SIZE OF THE

GARRISON AND FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THEM UNDER THE CURRENT

AGREEMENT. ON THE OTHER HAND I AM INFORMED THAT THE FORCES

ARE EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY IN GETTING THE GO-AHEAD FROM THE

TREASURY ON, E.G. THE PARTIAL REBUILDING OF THE GURKHA TRAINING CENTRE, ON THE GROUNDS THAT FINAL AGREEMENT ON FORCE LEVELS IS

STILL TO BE NEGOTIATED, I WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF URGENT ACTION

COULD BE TAKEN TO STRAIGHTEN THIS OUT, AND PROVIDE THOSE ON

THE SPOT WITH REASONABLE LATITUDE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE

CURRENT AGREEMENT.

MACLEHOSE

FILES

HK10D (3)

DEF. D

SWAD PS

PS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS

SIR.D. WATSON

MR.LARMOUR

MR SYKES

MR THOMSON

MR MALE

COPIES

MA ANDREW

MR HANSFORD .

MR BRYARS

AUSS MOD TREASURY

CABINET OFFICE

MR AGGLESTON, PSA, DOE

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