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in the public sector, but it is not easy to see how this might be
done.
DEFENCE
17. Hong Kong is indefensible against an attack from China, which poses the only external threat to the Colony's security.
Britain
is nevertheless responsible for the defence of Hong Kong. In fulfilment of this responsibility we currently maintain a garrison of four infantry battalions (three Gurkha and one British), a Gurkha engineer squadron, five naval patrol craft, and a squadron of RAF helicopters.
The
18. The presence of British forces in Hong Kong serves as a constant and visible reminder of the British commitment to Hong Kong. principal current tasks of the garrison are to maintain border patrols and to assist the police in preventing illegal immigration. In the event of serious internal disturbances land force units would be available to assist the police in restoring and maintaining order. In practice they have never been employed in that role in the urban areas, even in 1967.
19. Under the Defence Costs Agreement concluded in December 1975 the Hong Kong Government now meet 75% of the total costs of the garrison (which amount to about £50 million in 1978/79). The current agreement runs until 1982 and it might at that stage be possible to negotiate a further small increase in the Hong Kong Government's share of the total cost. But it would be undesirable to reduce the British financial contribution much below its present level: the psychological impact of the presence of British forces (paragraph 18 above) would be much diminished if they were paid for entirely by the Hong Kong Governme rrt.
20. As time goes on it may become less easy for the British Services to provide forces for the Hong Kong garrison and to earmark reinforce- ments. It will nevertheless be necessary to do so for the foreseeable future: it is difficult to imagine circumstances in which the garrison could be withdrawn, or reduced to a token strength, without very serious consequences for confidence in Hong Kong. It should, however, be borne in mind that the Hong Kong commitment has its advantages for the British Services, providing a welcome, and
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