TNAG-0617-FCO40-765-Strength-and-cost-of-UK-armed-forces-stationed-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 100

D/DS6/16/43

DS 11

Copy to:

PQ 6836B

DPS(C)

RECEPVED IN

·REGISTRY NO. 51

30 JUN1977 ›

10XK062/2

FCO (Defence Department) FCO (Far Eastern Department) FCO (HK 10 Department FCO (SE Asian Department)

15336

I have a few small amendments to suggest to your draft Supplementary Answers and Background Note.

1.

2.

These are as follows:

4.

t

Supplementary Answer No 4.

Amend to read

our assessment of the internal and external threats to the

Supplementary Answer No 5.

(i) There are of course several training elements (primarily Gurkha) in the HK

garrison. I think it is unnecessary, and even misleading, to include reference to the engineer training wing as part of the teeth arm elements of the garrison, and we should amend this piece to read ".... 4 infantry battalions and an engineer squadron, an RAF Wessex helicopter squadron

I

(ii) There is a manuscript note on our copy of the supplementaries prepared for Mr Hooley's last PQ on Hong Kong, to the effect that Minister of State asked for an updated figure for the cost of the garrison, and this was provided. have checked with GF 2 and suggest adding a further sentence: "At LIC 77 prices the garrison is estimated to cost £M50 a year". This information was, of course, not used in answering the PQ on 22 February.

/c.