TNAG-0757-FCO40-961-Strength-of-UK-armed-forces-stationed-in-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 178

DRAFT DOP PAPER

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

Introduction

THE FUTURE OF THE BRIGADE OF GURKHAS

The Brigade of Gurkhas comprises 5 infantry battalions, together with Engineer,

Signals and Transport units; and training and support elementa. As far au

Parliament and the public are concerned, HMG's policy for the future of the

Gurkhas is as announced in the 1975 Defence White Paper. This stated that

the Brigade would be reduced from 7,000 to 6,000 by 1 April 1979 and that,

subject to consultations with the Sultan, it was proposed to withdraw the

Gurkha battalion stationed in Brunei; and that these consultations had begun.

In addition, in a written answer on 25 May 1976, US of S(Army) stated that the

reduction of 1,000 would be achieved by the amalgamation, in the course of

1978, of the two battalions of 2 GR. Therefore, in parliamentary and public

terms we are at present committed both to a run-down to 6,000 Gurkhas in the

coming months and to "amalgamation in the course of 1978". However, because

of the protracted nature of consultations with the Sultan of Brunei, our

commitment to keep a Gurkha battalion in Brunei continues, and I have therefore

been obliged to give approval to delay the amalgamation until early 1979 and

to maintain a little over 6,000 Gurkhas until about the third quarter of 1979.

Neither of these decisions has been made public.

2.

The consequences of these planned reductions, the subsequent postponement

of their implementation, and the continuing uncertainty about the future have

caused difficulties both for the Ministry of Defence and for the Brigade of

Gurkhas itself. In particular, some reductions in strengths and recruiting

have taken place in preparation for the amalgamation and rundown.

CONFIDENTIALINI