TNAG-0841-FCO40-1050-Visit-of-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Hong-Kong--to-Chi-1979 — Page 7

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30 APP1979

#kk 34 MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

Main Building, Whitehall, LONDON SWIA RIB 30/4

Telephone: (Direct Dialling) of 308-6478

Our reference: AUS (GS) 128/79 (D/DS6/46/66/1 Your reference:

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D.F.Murray, Esq., CMG

Hong Kong & General Department Foreign & Commonwealth Office King Charles Street SW1 A 2AH

Dear Donald

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(Switchboard) or 18 9000 N Williams.

- we have already sent DS! a full set of the records of ~isit to Crina,

HKE BLLI || 55

25 April 1979

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Difone Dent. les

Thank you for your reply of 22-March to my letter of

3.

14 March about the Governor of Hong Kong's request for immediate naval reinforcements and possible Army reinforce-auılı ment later in the year. I have also seen FCO Tel No. 215 of

6 April to the Governor of Hong Kong, which sets out the present state of play very well. The naval problem is in hand, and we are awaiting General Redgrave's detailed advice about the natura of the Army requirement. which may arise later in the year.

2. There is only one point on which we have a different view, and that is over the possibility of using the Brunei battalion to provide such reinforcement as the Hong Kong garrison might require in the near future. Although I take your point about the undertaking to consult with Brunei not impairing our ability to use the battalion for purely British purposes, we do not consider that it is really a practicable option open to us so soon after the conclusion of the Treaty, especially in circumstances that the Sultan has his own problems with the boat people; and in particular where we cannot point to a major internal security problem in Hong Kong. This is not, however an issue we need resolve until we know more of Hong Kong s difficulties.

3.

We would be particularly interested to hear about the Governor's recent talks in China and the impact they may have on the present problem; perhaps you could let me know about the outcome of these when Robin McLaren returns from Hong Kong.

Yours sincerely.

Folgen

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