TNAG-0756-FCO40-960-Strength-of-UK-armed-forces-stationed-in-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 94

CONFIDENTIAL

ANNEX A TO COS 2/78 (Continued)

to sustain confidence and discourage armed incursions

or aggression, in accordance with political direction at the time;

C.

to be prepared, in the event of Chinese armed aggression, to identify such aggression and to offer such resistance as may be appropriate in the circumstances then prevailing in accordance with political direction

at the time.

6. Where necessary to assist you in these tasks it will be the responsibility of the Chiefs of Staff to provide you with reinforcements, the scale of which will be as set out in the relevant contingency plan. You may make requests for reinforcements in addition to these, but there can be no guarantee that they will be made available. Your plans must therefore be based on the scale of reinforcements specified in the approved contingency plan.

COMMAND ARRANGEMENTS

RELATIONSHIP WITH GOVERNOR AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

The 2.

7. The Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Hong Kong is responsible, subject to the direction of HMG, for decisions of policy on the security of Hong Kong, and accordingly no military action in your Operational Area should be taken without his agreement. As the representative of the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), you are to advise the Governor and consult him fully in all matters affecting the security of the Colony.

POSITION IN GOVERNMENT

8. You are, ex officio, a member of the Executive Council of Hong Kong. You are also a member of the Governor's Security Committee, the principal security policy committee in Hong Kong. In your absence, the Acting Commander British Forces is to take your place on both these bodies.

COMMAND

9.

You are responsible to CDS as the Chairman of the Chiefs

A-2

CONFIDENTIAL