TNAG-0544-FCO40-639-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 21

GURKHAS

1.

2.

PRESENT STRENGTH

PRESENT ORGANISATION AND DEPLOYMENT

About 6,600.

The Brigade of Gurkhas comprises five infantry

battalions, six squadrons of supporting arms

and services, a recruiting organisation and

a training centre. All are stationed in

Hong Kong except one battalion in Brunei,

one in the United Kingdom and the recruiting

organisation in Nepal.

3.

THE FUTURE OF THE BRIGADE

4.

REDUCTIONS

5.

HOW WILL REDUCTIONS BE ACHIEVED?

6. REDUNDANCY TERMS

As the House was told on 3 December, the

Brigade will be retained, serving mainly in

Hong Kong.

As the Defence White Paper, mentioned the

Brigade's strength will be reduced by

1,000 by 1979 as part of the manpower

reductions in the Army as a whole.

By a variety of measures including natural

wastage, but necessarily involving a measure

of redundancy. The details of these

arrangements are still being worked out.

Fair terms will be drawn up.

7. CONSULTATION WITH NEPAL

The Nepalese Government has naturally been

told of our planned reductions in the

Brigade, and will kept informed as the

final details are worked out.