TNAG-0756-FCO40-960-Strength-of-UK-armed-forces-stationed-in-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 48

PS/SECRETARY OF STATE

CONFIDENTIAL

HKK 062 11

RECEIVED 1 Dan)

2 8 FEB 1978

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

BA

*Retarence....

REGIS RY

Action Tuken

Copies to: PS/Minder State

PS/US of S(Army)

DUS (Army)

VCGS

AUS(GS) 79/78 (D/DS6/16/49)

See 46

FLAR egale

DMO

DASD

Head of DS11

INDEX

2 FEB 1778

Head of DS7

FCQ (SEAD)

itay DS6,

GURKHAS

You will recall that in September 1977 you agreed (1) to CDS's request (2) that we should postpone the issue of 130 Gurkha redundancy notices. In effect, this meant the delay in the amalgam➡ ation of the fourth and fifth Gurkha battalions by a minimum of six months, from October 1978 to 31 March 1979. You will also recall that CDS indicated that we could withhold a public state- ment of this postponement until 1 December, by which time the extent of our future commitment in Brunei was expected to have become clear. Our expectations were not and still have not been realised.

2. In the event, with the help of CBF Hong Kong, we were able further to delay the date of an announcement in the hope that a clear decision would be achieved in January 1978. But the position has now been reached where those senior British and Gurkha ranks concerned must be told of the decision to delay the amalgamation, so that essential replanning which affects the whole Brigade can be set in train. The postponement has had an inevitable effect on our plans for redundancy involving us in reselection to meet the new time frame. The continued manning of 5 battalions requires adjustments to recruiting in Nepal and extensions of service. It has also become necessary, for arms plot reasons connected with the date of amalgamation, to extend 6 Gurkha Rifles' unaccompanied tour in UK to March 1979. This decision is one we were naturally reluctant to take, in view of its effect on their families in Nepal, who were due to join them in Hong Kong in September 1978. It is therefore considered important that the men and their families are warned as soon as possible of the change in plan.

3. We recognise that there is no possibility of a public announce- ment now, whatever the urgent military reasons, because it would be bound to come to thehotice of the Bruneis, to the prejudice of HMG's position in any negotiations with the Sultan. In the circumstances, we would like to have your agreement now to informing, on an 'in confidence' basis: those ranks in the Brigade of Gurkhas and staff in UK and Headquarters British Forces Hong Kong who are involved in the planning of the future of the Brigade and of its component units; the unit in UK which is concerned; and their families in Nepal. We must accept that there would be some risk of a leak; however, informing those families in Nepal would not increase this. We have notified the FCO at official level that this is our plan, and they are content provided that the fact that we are proceeding more slowly with amalgamation is not attributed to our difficulties over the Brunei negotiations.

MO 9/1/1/3 dated 8 September 1977 1030/4 dated 2 September 1977: