TNAG-0757-FCO40-961-Strength-of-UK-armed-forces-stationed-in-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 200

From:

Mr A JH Adams

HKCS/056

WAT Aves Esq

DS6

Ministry of Defence

Main Building Whitehall

London SW1

Dear Bin

CENTIVAL PEQISTING

LS & DA 7 BG 19

肴

0 3 MAY 1978

CIVIL SECRETARY

HEADQUARTERS BRITISH FORCES HONG KONG

BRITISH FORCES POST OFFICE 1

Hong Kong 238111 Ext: 3367

AUS (GS)

04

20 April 1978

1.

!

*(5)

CASTLE PEAK RANGE

=

Leincipal (b)....

050 2(b)

In your signal LDF/MMK 131520Z Apr you asked for the Hong Kong Government's submission for the release of an area of Castle Peak Ant a... Range for the routing of power transmission lines for a new power incip... station nearby. I attach a copy of the Secretary for Security's

HEM(A) letter of 3 April to Brigadier Crabtree. I also enclose two maps, A1............. the first one shows the edge of the firing area affected and the

COPY 10 M proposed route required within our boundary for the power transmission lines. You will note that the proposal is for the lines to follow the boundary of our firing range quite closely. The submission from the Hong Kong Government actually requests an area much greater than this to be ceded. I am also attaching therefore a map showing the 200m area requested by the Secretary for Security.

We have given detailed consideration to the Hong Kong Government's request. Meanwhile they have been advised by Brigadier Crabtree that the matter is one which requires to be referred to London. G Training HQBF, wrote to ATlc on 18 April explaining the operational penalties which would be incurred if we ceded the 200m stretch of land from our firing range. I attach a copy of that letter. It is quite clear that it would seriously reduce our training capacity. On these grounds we would not wish the land to be released.

There

However, we recognise that this is an important project, both to the Department of Industry in London and to the local community. Castle Peak is on the boundary of a rapidly developing new town. It is in the interests of our standing and relationships with the local community to be as helpful as possible in such an expanding area. However, the pressure of population is already disturbing the Castle Peak Range and this can only get worse in future. is already a considerable amount of illegal encroachment, particularly unauthorised graves. The growing population and indeed the Government are bound to cast covetous eyes on our large land holding in the area, particularly as the pressure of population builds up. It is our opinion, therefore, that we must stand firm as much as possible in order not to set a precedent which could harm us in future. For both immediate operational reasons and to protect our long term interests, therefore, we believe that the land should not be given up.

However, there may be a compromise solution which would satisfy both the Power Company and the Army's training requirements. The proposed encroachment lies at the end of a steep ridge rising to over 1000 ft.

CONNENWAL