TNAG-0617-FCO40-765-Strength-and-cost-of-UK-armed-forces-stationed-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 78

CONFIDENTIAL

i

2

It was decided in the 1974 Defence Review to reduce the Brigade by one battalion in 1978. If the reduction is to be implemented on time the administrative process, including redundancy notices, should start soon. The Army Department thus find themselves complaining bitterly about a shortage of infantry and at the same time contemplating declaring redundant some of the infantrymen they do have.

7. The Belize reinforcement has increased the problem of over- stretch. The equivalent of one and two-thirds battalions infantry are now stationed there. The Army say that effectively this means 2 battalions are not free for other tasks. Permission to replace British infantry in Belize with Gurkhas would relieve this overstretch problem considerably.

8. I explained to Miss Bennett (DS 11) the pilot deployment proposal which we have submitted to Dr Owen. Her initial reaction was that it would not help since the British infantry now committed to Belize would still be required. I agreed that this was so but argued that it was in the Army's interests not to reject a scheme which might lead eventually to Ministers agreeing to the general use of Gurkha infantry in Belize.

+

•

ľ.

•

med merahran dan

bilin A. Munro

}

0

10

CA Munro

11 August 1977

Defence Department

vobject A

.

130

C

devi.