TNAG-0750-FCO40-954-Visits-of-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Hong-Kong--to-UK-1978 — Page 76

CONFIDENTIAL

4.

Shortly before he left, General

The

Sir J Archer, the recently replaced Commander of the British Forces in Hong

Kong, floated the idea that the garrison in Hong Kong should be increased. uncertainty over the future of the battalion in Brunei was only one element in the case which he saw for doing this. The MOD declined to enter into a discussion

with him over this:

they said that if

there were factors justifying an increase in the garrison these should be put by

the Governor to the FCO. The Governor has not in fact shown any inclination so far to widen the debate beyond considera- tion of the effect of the possible with- withdrawal of the Gurkhas from Brunei.

CONFIDENTIAL