TNAG-0847-FCO40-1057-Visits-of-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Hong-Kong--to-th-1979 — Page 65

CONFIDENTIAL

33

51

19 JUN 1979

HKK 026/1.4

P.

REC

SUMMARY RECORD OF A MEETING BETWEEN THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG AT 45 b3 JUNE 1979

The Secretary of State

Lord Privy Seal

Mr Peter Blaker MP

PUS

Mr Cortazzi

Mr Murray

Mr McLaren

Mr Walden

Mr Wall

Present

Sir Murray MacLehose

Mr Bray (Hong Kong Commissioner,

London)

Mr David Ford (Secretary for

Information, Hong Kong)

Dr David Wilson (Political

Adviser, Hong Kong)

Reinforcement

1. At the Secretary of State's invitation, Sir Murray MacLehose

described the background to his request for reinforcements for the

garrison in Hong Kong. He made the following points:-

a) If the number of illegal immigrants was to be kept to

manageable proportions the entire perimeter of Hong Kong

must be covered. This could not be done effectively without

reinforcement.

b) The present garrison were at full stretch and would

collapse from exhaustion by the end of the summer if

not reinforced.

c) The 1 battalions for which the Commander, British Forces

had asked was the minimum requirement.

CONFIDENTIAL

/a)