TNAG-1373-FCO40-1819-Ministerial-visits-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 195

GRS 650

SECRET

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKEY 2609OOZ FCO

TELNO 2323

OF 250935Z OCTOBER 85

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

MIPY 252

SECRET

4KK 027/6

ник

RÈCEIVED IN REGISTRY 2 8 OCT 1985

253)

MR. RENTON'S VISIT : BRIEF ON FUTURE OF THE GARRISON.

EGISTRY

eton Taken

THE FOLLOWING ARE THE REVISED VERSIONS OF PARAGRAPHS 1,

AND 5.

2, 3

PARA. 1

SUGGEST THE LINE TO TAKE SHOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH THE MOD AND HKG PRESS RELEASES OF 27 SEPTEMBER 1985 ON HONG KONG FORCE LEVELS, THE ASSOCIATED Q AND A BRIEF AND RECENT STATEMENTS BY CDS. HMG WILL CONTINUE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEFENCE AND INTERNAL SECURITY OF HONG KONG UP TO 1997, AND WILL MAINTAIN THE APPROPRIATE FORCES NEEDED FOR THIS PURPOSE. IN ANY INTERNAL SECURITY SITUATION THAT MIGHT ARISE, THE GARRISON WILL BE AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT THE POLICE FORCE. WITH REGARD TO THE FUTURE OF THE CARRISON THE LINE IS THAT NO DECISIONS HAVE BEEN TAKEN ON HOW THE GARRISON SHOULD BE REPLACED. BUT SINCE THE GARRISON CANNOT ALL WITHDRAW TOGETHER ON 30 JUNE 1997, SOME PHASING OF THIS WITHDRAWAL WILL BE NECESSARY. BECAUSE THE THREE GOVERNMENTS CONCERNED HAVE YET TO BE CONSULTED, WE SUGGEST THAT MR. RENTON SHOULD NOT (NOT) REFER TO THE FACT THAT PLANS ARE NOW BEING DEVELOPED PROGRESSIVELY TO REDUCE THE SIZE OF THE CARRISON AND TO INCREASE THE POLICE FORCE.

IF PRESSED, WE SUGGEST HE SAYS THAT THE ISSUE IS A MATTER WHICH REQUIRES CAREFUL STUDY. TIMINGS WILL HAVE TO BE RELATED TO THE NEEDS OF HONG KONG AND IT WILL BE IMPORTANT NOT TO RUSH INTO PRECIPITATE DECISIONS.

PARA. 2

THE RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT THAT 3/7 GR WOULD BE DISBANDED IN 1987 HAS NO IMPLICATIONS WHATSOEVER ON THE LONG TERM VIABILITY OF THE BRIGADE OF GURKHAS. THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE HAS SAID 'I INTEND THAT THERE SHALL DE A CONTINUING ROLE FOR THE GURKHAS AFTER 1997 WITHIN THE BRITISH ARMY'. THE FINAL SIZE AND SHAPE OF THE GURKHAS WILL TURN ON OPERATIONAL AND RESOURCE FACTORS FACING THE ENTIRE ARMY AT THE TIME, WHICH IT IS TOO EARLY TO FORESEE AT

THIS STAGE.

SECRET

FAZA 3

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