Mir Watkins
Adfence bepot Isl. Sentinte
PS/MINISTER OF STATE
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Copies to: PS/S of S
PS/US of S(Army) MA/VCGS
DMO
DASD
Head of AG Sec
DPR (Army)
Head of DS6
Ha. AUS(GS) 293/78
(DS6/16/49) (DS6/16/35)
151
MINISTITY OF OVEṛNCE GENTHAL MEGLSTRY DS 0 0 7 03 13
15 AUGW/8
நார் அ
Head of DS7
Head of DS11
FCO (Defence Department)
PRESS RELEASE: FUTURE OF THE BRIGADE OF GURKHAS
As you know, the Chancellor (on 26 July) and the Prime Minister (on 2 August) replied to Secretary of State's letter MO 9/1/1 B dated 20 July, agreeing to the proposal to retain
5 battalions of Gurkhas until at least one year after the Brunei commitment ends. The agreement of the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary is likely to arrive shortly; and it is hoped that a point raised by No. 10 about use of Gurkhas after the treaty ends will have been dealt with.
2.
Once this has been received, the way will be clear to make this decision public. I therefore attach for Minister of State's approval the draft of a press release for this purpose, which has been cleared both with MOD and with the departments concerned in the FCO, and a supporting Q and A brief. When the form of the statement has been agreed we will make arrangements with DPR (Army) for its release; FCO would like to ensure simultaneous release in Hong Kong. It is hoped to make the release next Friday.
15 August 1978
AUS (GS)
D56
Asst Sec
Principal
G50 2(a LEG (2) G30 1 GO 7(b)
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J. DROMOOOLE
AUS(GS)
HKK 062/!. 51
RECEIVED IN ALL-
DECK INDEX
18 AUG 1978
#RY
on Teken
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Ni RS.18/ my CLE
The Holloway (SAD).
we spoke you agreed to like graph Katan ander today
to Ensitie the nelease to imme here tamen por.
Mr Stagg (HKGD) Mr Longmire (SEXTD),
If there are any comments perhaps they cured begiven dired to this Drangnile.
Waltinis
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