TNAG-0756-FCO40-960-Strength-of-UK-armed-forces-stationed-in-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 89

STARFAN CONFIDENCE

布政司署

香港 下亞畢道

OUR REF.: CR 5/1356/62

* Your Ref.:

Dear Stagg,

!

Security Branch,

GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT

LOWER ALBERT ROAD

HONG KONG

BIR HKK oball

INDA

N

2

16th, January,

16th

OFFICER

:༔

!!! of

1978

Commanding Officer of the Royal

Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers)

(93. HKK 062/2 (77)

Thank you for your letter of 7th December 1977 addressed to Drace-Francis concerning the provisional nomination of Major E. J. Pepper RTR as the next Commanding Officer of the Royal Hong Kong Regiment.

We have consulted the Commander British Forces and the Honorary Colonel of the Regiment and it would appear that Major Pepper is a suitable choice. His selection has therefore been approved.

The Honorary Colonel of the Regiment, the Hon. 0.v. Cheung, CBE, QC, JP, expects to be in the U.K. about mid- September and would like to meet Major Pepper if convenient. We shall write to you nearer the time about arrangements for a meeting when Colonel Cheung's dates are firmer.

I should perhaps add that as the Regiment is

financed entirely by the Hong Kong Government, though forming part of the Garrison, we do of course take a particular interest in it and this Branch is the Policy Branch respon- sible for it. Accordingly we should be grateful if correspondence with the Hong Kong Government could be addressed to this Branch. In this case it was not so much that diplomatic clearance was required but that we should be consulted over the appointment.

C.R. Stagg, Esq.,

Yours sincerely

были

Geffrey Barnes.

(G.T. Barnes)

Hong Kong and General Department, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London SW1A 2AH.

STAFFIN CONFIDENCE