TNAG-1475-FCO40-2006-Visits-by-MPs-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 63

CONFIDENTIAL

THE FUTURE OF THE BRIGADE OF GURKHAS

BACKGROUND

1. The Government announced on 27 September 1985 that 2/7 Gurkha

Rifles were to be disbanded as a result of a decision to reduce force

levels in Hong Kong by one battalion from 1987; copies of the Press

Release, and of a letter from the Secretary of State in which

Sir Humphrey Atkins MP was given advance notice of the decision are

In his letter Mr Heseltine made it clear that:

annexed.

2.

"I intend that there shall be 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 British Army at the time which it is too early to

foresee at this stage."

A similar statement was included in the 1986 Statement on the

Defence Estimates. Giving evidence to the Committee on 14 May,

Mr Younger repeated his predecessor's statement that "there should be

a continuing role for the Gurkhas in the British Army after 1997". He

pointed out, however, that it was not possible to say more at this

stage "until we are clearer about the precise nature of this role."

THE DISBANDMENT OF 2/7_GR

3.

Considerable care is being taken to minimise the impact of the

disbandment of 2/7 GR on the organisation and morale of the Brigade as

a whole. Although the Battalion is to disband in January 1987, the

actual manpower reduction will be phased over the four financial years

to 1989/90, and will be achieved principally by temporarily reducing

recruiting, by natural wastage and by redeployment to other units.

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