TNAG-1936-FCO40-2762-Future-of-Hong-Kong-defence-and-public-order-1989 — Page 44

Redacted under FOI exemption 27(1)

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MOHIAN 177

WE NOTE THAT A REVIEW OF THE RN PRESENCE IN HONG KONG WILL TAKE PLACE.

THERE MIGHT ALSO BE PRACTICAL

ADVANTAGES IN A SLOWER WITHDRAWAL TIMESCALE THAN PREVIOUSLY PLANNED. THERE ARE NO/NO GROUNDS FOR CONCERN ABOUT THE RATE OF EXPANSION OF THE MARINE POLICE ON THE LINES OF PARA 5(B) OF SECOND TUR. EXPANSION PLANS ARE ON COURSE AND THERE ARE NO/NO DESIGN PROBLEMS WITH REPLACEMENT CRAFT.

5. THE TARGET FOR EXPANSION SET IN 1979 WAS TO INCREASE THE FLEET SIZE FROM 45 TO 69 VESSLES (EXCLUDING SMALL BOAT UNIT CRAFT), REPLACING 34 OLDER VESSELS IN THE PROCESS. FLEET SIZE IS NOW 66 VESSELS. STILL TO COME ARE ONLY THREE ADDITIONS AND 14 REPLACEMENTS, SEVEN OF WHICH WILL ARRIVE THIS YEAR. WE CAN NOW DEPLOY FOUR COMMAND VESSELS. ONLY ONE ADDITIONAL AND TWO REPLACEMENT COMMAND VESSELS ARE STILL TO COME. THE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM WITH THE MARINE POLICE RELATES TO MAINTENANCE SUPPORT. MEASURES ARE ALREADY IN HAND TO ADDRESS THIS.

61 AS FOR THE RHKAAF, FINANCE COMMITTEE APPROVED FUNDS FOR THE EXPANSION PROGRAMME ON 25 JANUARY. WE WILL SOON PLACE ORDERS FOR EIGHT HELICOPTERS. THREE SHOULD ARRIVE IN 1989/90 TO REPLACE THE PRESENT AS 365CS, PLUS THREE ADDITIONAL MACHINES IN 1990 AND ONE MORE IN EACH OF THE NEXT TWO YEARS. THUS, BY 1992 THE GFSD WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ALL SUPPORT NECESSARY FOR THE POLICE. OPTIONS FOR FOUR MACHINES WILL BE TAKEN OUT, TO BE EXERCISED BY 1992, SHOULD WE NEED MORE.

7. WE NOTE THE SUGGESTION THAT THERE SOULD BE A REINFORCEMENT EXERCISE (PARA 6 OF FIRST TUR) AND AGREE THAT WE SHOULD NOT MENTION THIS TO EXCO AT THIS STAGE. OUR INITIAL REACTION IS CONCERN ABOUT THE POLITICAL SIGNALS THAT SUCH AN EXERCISE MIGHT GIVE BOTH TO THE CHINESE AND THE LOCAL POPULATION. WE WILL NEED TO CONSIDER VERY CAREFULLY THE POSITION REACHED IN DEFENCE AND PUBLIC ORDER TALKS, AND THE LOCAL CONDITIONS NEARER THE TIME, BEFORE WE CAN TAKE THIS IDEA ANY FURTHER. THERE IS ALSO THE QUESTION OF COST AND FINANCE COMMITTEE'S LIKELY REACTION TO ANY INCEASE IN THE DCA BILL.

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