Draft Press Release
FUTURE OF THE BRIGADE OF GURKHA S
In the 1974 Defence Review, Her Majesty's Government decided
that, subject to consultations with the Sultan of Brunei, the Gurkha
battalion should be withdrawn from Brunei; and that as part of the
Army's manpower reductions, the Brigade of Gurkhas should be cut
from 7,000 to 6,000 by 1 April 1979 (Statement on the Defence
Estimates 1975 Cmmd 5976, paragraphs 37 and 64). In amplification,
US of S(Army) stated in answer to a written parliamentary question
in 1976 that the reduction would be achieved by an amalgamation in
the course of 1978 of the two battalions of 2nd King Edward VII's
Own Gurkha Rifles.
2. As a result of agreement reached with the Sultan of Brunei at
the London talks in June, HMG has agreed to continue to station a
battalion of Gurkha infantry in Brunei for a period of up to a
further five years as from September 1978. As hitherto, the Sultan
will meet the full costs of this battalion.
3.
In order to meet this continuing commitment, while at the
same time providing three Gurkha battalions as part of the Hong
Kong garrison under the 1975 Hong Kong Defence Costs Agreement,
and one battalion in the United Kingdom (where its presence ensures
that the Brigade of Gurkhas maintains its expertise in all-arms
operations, and makes an effective contribution to the relief of
turbulence, overstretch and family separation among British infantry
units),
Her Majesty's Government has agreed to retain a fifth
1.
/battalion
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