TNAG-0904-FCO40-1114-Immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 49

From: J. Dromgoole

AUS(GS)

C

CONFIDENTIAL NTIAL

ET MON

HKCK 341/1.

2 1 MAR 1979

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

INDEX

Main Building, Whitehall, London SWIA 2HB

Telephone (Direct Dialling) 01-218

(Switchboard) 01-218 9000

AUS(GS) 93/79 (D/DS6/46/66/1)

476

į 823

14 March 1979

46

i

Taken

Sumarise

D.F. Murray, Esq., CMG

Hong Kong & General Department Foreign & Commonwealth Office King Charles Street SW1A 2AH

for Donald-

HONG KONG FORCE LEVELS

Mr. Mc Laren for action FED SEAD Defence Dept Ver Cartazzi

We have now seen Hong Kong Tels No. 35 to 353 of 10 March, in which the Governor sets out his requirement for Immediate naval reinforcement and the possibility of additional troops later in the year.

We would welcome your views on the Governor's requests.

2. In the meantime Navy Department colleagues are examining HE's requests urgently, and will see what can be offered. On the Army side, and in the context of the DCA as a whole, I attach for your information a copy of an internal minute in which I set out my advice on financial and other aspects of increasing temporarily the size of the Hong Kong garrison. You may wish to comment on what is said there.

3. While we are considering these requests, I feel that we would like to be assured that initiatives are also being taken politically and diplomatically to deal with these problems at their roots, for example representations to Hanoi over the boat people, and to Peking over the Hong Kong border control difficulties; the chances of a sympathetic and effective response; and the time-

I believe we need this scale within which this may be achieved. sort of information in order properly to assess Whitehall's response to the Hong Kong Government on their specific requests.

what re have dove and propose to do. Don't just comp Telegrams

Дви

Yours Sincerely Folgen

CONFENTIANTIAL