TNAG-1584-FCO40-2158-Localisation-of-the-Hong-Kong-police-force-1986 — Page 17

YOLAN M

FKK 352/2 RECEIVED my dowie iHY

08 JAN1986

OFSR JERICEM

INDEX

SECRET

Redacted under FOI Exemption S 27(1)

FROM: A C Galsworthy, HKD

}

Dr Wilson

PS/Mr Renton

Private Secretary

DATE:

17 December 1985

CC:

Sir W Harding

FED

Defence Department

Colin Farthing Esq,

Sec (0)(C), MOD

A

REPLACEMENT FOR THE BRITISH GARRISON IN HONG KONG

1.

The Hong Kong Government has for some time been considering how the British Garrison's internal security role

could be replaced after 1997.

I submit for information a

paper which has been prepared by a working group of officials in Hong Kong, and which the Governor is now ready to put to

EXCO.

2.

likely to be

would be an The paper

The paper recommends that we do not pursue the option of creating an internal security force to take over from the garrison on the grounds that it would not be

acceptable to the Chinese, and because it expensive and administratively difficult choice. also rejects the alternatives of doing nothing, creating a Police Field Force or maintaining a locally employed Gurkha Force. Instead the paper recommends that we should examine

further the options of expanding the Police Tactical Unit and the voluntary support organisations (including the Auxiliary Air Force, Medical Services and Auxiliary Police

Police Force).

The se are stated to be the options most likely to

acceptable to the Chinese

be

B

The Hong Kong paper suggests that an expanded police force would be well capable of dealing with internal security problems in Hong Kong, and would also be a cost-effective and administratively practical way of replacing the garrison.

SECRET