TNAG-0757-FCO40-961-Strength-of-UK-armed-forces-stationed-in-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 32

SECRET

accepted over the last three years

without undue disruption 7 m.

without significant effect on the UK contribution to NATO. Yere

operations to continue at this level the UK would have little dir-

ficulty in mounting them.

40.

However, many proposals for Priority Two commitments have

been considered during the past twelve months, but not implemented,

either because the potential emergency has receded or because the

Ministry of Defence was not, in the event, invited to undertake the

commitment. Some of these (eg the Airlift of Nigerian troops to

UNIFIL) would have had significant effects on NATO commitments.

Moreover, at no time in the past three years have two unforeseen

Priority Two Commitments involving deployment of servicemen.

arisen at the same time,

Finally, since the Guidelines (2) were

written, no commitment has arisen requiring the deployment of

forces in such large numbers as were required when Cyprus was

reinforced in July 1974. Recent operations, therefore, do not

provide a reliable indication of the UK capability to fulfil Priority

Two commitments.

POSSIBLE FUTURE PRIORITY TWO COMMITMENTS IN THE MEDIUM MERMA

(1978 1983)

POLIS

41. We consider that the developments discussed in paras 10

28 may

lead to increased demands for Non-NATO operations. On the other hand

Note:

2 COS 10/75.

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