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REQUIRE IT. IT CAN BE ASSUMED THAT INITIAL REINFORCEMENTS WOULD HAVE COME FROM BRUNEI. HOW WILL WITHDRAWAL OF THE GURKHA BATTALION FROM BRUNEI AFFECT THE UK'S CAPABILITY OF REINFORCING THE HONG
KONG GARRISON ?
A. THE BRITISH ARMED FORCES ARE ORGANISED AND TRAINED TO EFFECT RAPID OVERSEAS REINFORCEMENT. THERE HAVE BEEN REINFORCEMENTS IN RECENT YEARS OF BELIZE, CYPRUS, BERMUDA AND NORTHERN IRELAND. THE UNITED KINGDOM MINISTRY OF DEFENCE MAINTAINS AN INFANTRY BATTALION PERMANENTLY IN AN ADVANCED STATE OF READINESS TO MOVE OVERSEAS.
Q. WON'T THE DISTANCES INVOLVED MAKE IT A MUCH LONGER PROCESS REINFORCE THE HONG KONG GARRISON ?
TO
A. IT WOULD TAKE LONGER, THEREFORE, IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT OF MILITARY REINFORCEMENTS BEING NEEDED, THOSE CONCERNED WITH THE DECISION WOULD BE FULLY AWARE THAT ANY REQUEST FOR TROOPS FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM MUST BE MADE THAT MUCH SOONER.
Q. WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE GURKHA BATTALION IF IT IS WITHDRAWN
FROM BRUNE! ?
A. THIS, OF COURSE, IS A MATTER FOR THE UNITED KINGDOM GOVERNMENT TO DECIDE IN THE LIGHT OF BRITAIN'S OVERALL DEFENCE COMMITMENTS AND
POLICY.
Q. WILL THE BATTALION COME TO HONG KONG ?
A. SUCH A PROPOSITION WOULD HAVE TO BE THE SUBJECT OF DISCUSSION AND AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED KINGDOM GOVERNMENT AND THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.
Q. WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE TRAINING FACILITIES IN BRUNEI WHICH ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR USE BY THE HONG KONG GARRISON ?
A. WE WOULD HOPE THAT BRUNEI WILL CONTINUE TO ALLOW THESE FACILITIES TO BE USED, SINCE THAT WOULD BE OF ADVANTAGE TO
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/ BRUNET,
J
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