TNAG-0617-FCO40-765-Strength-and-cost-of-UK-armed-forces-stationed-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 160

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REPORT. ALTHOUGH JOINT THEATRE PLAN (EAST) NO. 30 IN THEORY PROVIDE

FOR A REINFORCEMENT BATTALION FROM THE UK TO ARRIVE WITHIN 5 DA

THE LOSS OF NEARBY REINFORCEMENT CAPABILITY FROM BRUNEI WITHIN

HOURS WOULD BE SERIOUS, NOT LEAST BECAUSE REINFORCEMENT FROM THE U.K. MIGHT BE MORE DIFFICULT OR TAKE LONGER TO ARRANGE THEM FROM BRUNEI, AND THE MEN WOULD NOT BE ACCLIMATISED TO TROPICAL CONDITIONS.

5. IT ALSO REMAINS IMPORTANT THAT THE GURKHA FIELD FORCE'S

OPPORTUNITIES FOR TRAINING AND SERVING ALONGSIDE OTHER BATTALIONS

OF THE BRITISH ARMY SHOULD BE MAINTAINED. THERE IS UNDOUBTEDLY THE

POSSIBLILITY OF A FEELING OF ISOLATION DEVELOPING AMONGST THE GURKHAS, THOUGH I AM ASSURED BY CBF THAT THIS COULD BE COUNTERED AND SHOULD NOT RESULT IN LOSS OF OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE TRAINING FACILITIES IN HK ARE LIMITED AND ALL THE TERRAIN OF THE TRAINING AREAS IS WELL KNOWN BY THE MEN OF THE BATTALLIONS. THE OPPORTUNITY, THEREFORE OF SERVICE IN BRUNEI GIVES EXCELLENT TRAINING FACILITIES FOR THE HK BATTALIONS AND THE

CHANCE OF ROTATING THEM THROUGH BRUNEI IS VERY BENEFICIAL. IF, FOR

SOME REASON, THIS OPPORTUNITY CEASES TO EXIST, THEN IT WOULD BE ESSENTIAL FOR ONE GURKHA BATTALION TO BE POSTED ELSEWHERE THAN IN

HK. PRESUMABLY IT WOULD REMAIN IN BRITAIN. THE OTHER 3 1/3 GURKHA

BATTALIONS WOULD THEN BE ROTATED THROUGH THE REMAINING GURKHA

BATTALION FOR TRAINING PURPOSES.

6. IN SUMMARY, THEREFORE, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE SHOULD BE

ABLE TO CONTINUE TO LOOK TO BRUNEI FOR SPEEDY INITIAL REINFORCEMENT

IN A CRISIS, AND THE FACILITITIES THERE ARE ESSENTIAL FOR GURKHA TRAINING AND MORALE. ANY SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM OF

DISENGAGING THE UK FROM BRUNEI AFFAIRS WHICH INCLUDED THE (NEXT

THREE WORDS UNDERLINED) QUID PRO QUO OF A CONTINUED GURKHA PRESENCE

IN BRUNEI COULD ONLY BE VERY MUCH TO HONG KONG'S ADVANTAGE.

MACLEHOSE

FILES

SEAD HKGD DEF D

MR.CORTAZZI

MR.MURRAY

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