TNAG-0757-FCO40-961-Strength-of-UK-armed-forces-stationed-in-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 246

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TRAINING, E.G IN BRUNEI ITSELF, AND OPERATIONAL EXPERIENCE OUTSIDE HONG KONG. ACCORDINGLY WE ATTACH MUCH IMPORTANCE TO

AT LEAST ONE GURKHA BATTALION CONTINUING TO SERVE WITH OTHER

REGULAR UNITS IN BRITAIN OR ELSEWHERE OUTSIDE HONG KONG ON A

PERMANENT BASIS.

5. IN ALL THESE CIRCUMSTANCES WE CONSIDER THAT THE POSSIBLE

WITHDRAWAL OF THE BATTALION FROM BRUNEI MAKES IT NECESSARY

TO CONSIDER WHETHER THE HONG KONG GARRISON SHOULD REVERT TO

FIVE AND ONE THIRD RESIDENT BATTALION AS POSTULATED BY THE

CHIEFS OF STAFF. OF COURSE IF AGREEMENT IS REACHED WITH THE SULTAN AND THE BATTALION REMAINS IN BRUNEI WE WOULD NOT WISH

TO PRESS FOR ANY REVIEW.

6. IF YOU AGREE WITH OUR VIEW THEN WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF

NO IRREVOCABLE STEP SHOULD BE TAKEN TO REMOVE THE BATTALION

FROM THE REGION, OR TO DISBAND IT, UNTIL THERE HAS BEEN AN

OPPORTUNITY FOR DISCUSSION WITH US ON THE LEVEL OF THE HONG

KONG GARRISON.

<

,

7. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THIS APPROACH TO YOU OR ANY SUBSEQUENT

DISCUSSIONS SHOULD NOT LEAK AS IT WOULD BE DAMAGING TO THE

MORALE OF THE R.H.K.P IF A REAPPRAISAL MADE NECESSARY BY

DEVELOPMENTS IN BRUNEI IMPLIED ANY LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN THE

R.H.K.P.

8 PLEASE REFER IT TO BRUNE! IF YOU THINK NECESSARY.

MACLEHOSE

FILES

HK & GD (5)

DEFENCE D

SEAD

PS

PS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS PS/PUS

MR CORTAZZI

MR MURRAY

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