TNAG-0757-FCO40-961-Strength-of-UK-armed-forces-stationed-in-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 107

139

CONFIDENTIAL

Foreign and Commonwealth Office London SW1A 2AH

PA

Telephone 01-233-5478

145

J R Miles Esq

DS 80

Ministry of Defence

Main Building Whitehall

London SW1

RAF LOAN SERVICE POSTS (LSP)

1.

HEKS Oball.

Your reference D/DS8/36/6

Our reference

DPT 071/3

199

DRZY

25 July 1978

RECEIVES ME NO. Spate

25 JUL 1978

DRK OFFICER

INDEX

No la

PA

Acton Tr

You wrote to Brian Watkins on 2 July asking for our reactions to the possible withdrawl of RAF officers currently on loan to Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Brunei and Oman.

Hong Kong

2. We do not foresee any political problems in recovering the LSP officer from Hong Kong when his tour ends in 1979.

Saudi Arabia:

3. Although you say that the RAF do not wish to recall the six JOPs currently serving as fast jet instructors on loan to BAe for the SADAP project in Saudi Arabia, we see from Hodgson's letter of 6 July to Major that MOD are anxious to reduce their commitment to provide RAF pilots for the SADAP contract. Our position is that we would be content for the RAF not to replace the present LSPs unless of course there could be any suggestion from the Saudis that we were defaulting on our contracts and agreements with them. Our wider interests would be badly served if the Saudis were to have suspicion about our ability to live up to our commitment to provide LSP.

Kuwait

4. On the face of it, there seem to be no strong reasons for replacing the two JOPS whose tours end this year since the Kuwaitis have not requested replacements. There are, however, good political reasons for not being seen to withdraw our support in strategically important areas for small countries who are happy to seek and pay for British military assistance. We have written to our Embassy in Kuwai and await their reactions to the suggestion that all six posts should be recovered.

Brunei

5.

We recognise that the RBMR provides comparatively poor training for RAF personnel. However, we have only just secured agreement with the Sultan on a new Treaty of Friendship and Co-operation. Part of the new Treaty arrangements will be an exchange of Notes on "the provision of assistance to the Armed Forces of Brunei". If we made any move now to withdraw RAF pilots, the Sultan would be deeply suspicious and the whole Treaty could be at risk. During the recent negotiations he made a particular point of mentioning his previous disappointments over the supply of the LSP. He was re-assured by Lord Goronwy-Roberts that we would

CONFIDENTIAL