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THERE WOULD ALSO BE A PROGRESSIVE RUNDOWN IN ARMY SUPPORT UNITS (ENGINEERS, SIGNALS, TRANSPORT ETC), AND SOME REDUCTION IN HQ AND COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES.
TO BE WITHDRAWN WOULD BE THE UK BATTALION.
DEVELOPMENTS SINCE 1987
5. THE MAIN DEVELOPMENTS SINCE 1987 ARE AS FOLLOWS:
(A) CONSULTATION WITH THE CHINESE: THIS HAS BEEN EXTENSIVE, THROUGH THE JLG AND EXPERT TALKS.
(B)
THE HKG HAVE MADE GOOD PROGRESS IN EXPANDING THE PTU TO THE MOD HAVE CONCLUDED RESUME BORDER DUTIES FROM THE GARRISON. THAT THIS WILL ENABLE THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE FIRST BATTALION IN MID-1992 TO GO AHEAD AS ORIGINALLY PLANNED. THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS ENDORSED A PAPER TO BE HANDED OVER TO THE CHINESE INFORMING THEM OF THE NEED FOR AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF THIS IN ABOUT MARCH. HKG PLANS TO EXPAND THE MARINE POLICE HAVE NOT PROCEEDED AS FAST AS HOPED, AND IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT THERE ARE DESIGN SHORTFALLS IN THEIR REPLACEMENT CRAFT. THIS MAY HAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE TIMING OF THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE THREE REMAINING PATROL CRAFT, ORIGINALLY PLANNED TO TAKE PLACE NOT BEFORE 1991. THE HKG NOW PLANS TO EXPAND THE QUOTE FLYING SERVICES DEPARTMENT UNQUOTE FROM THE LAST PART OF 199U ONWARDS, RATHER THAN FROM 1989. SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO THE PRESENT FORCE OF WESSEX AND SCOUT HELICOPTERS CAN STILL BE ACHIEVED IN 1989 AS THE NUMBERS OF AIRCRAFT REQUIRED TO MEET THE OPERATIONAL TASK PERMIT THIS REDUCTION.
OUTCOME OF THE 1989 REVIEW
6.
MOD AND FCO OFFICIALS HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THE OUTLINE
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