TNAG-1936-FCO40-2762-Future-of-Hong-Kong-defence-and-public-order-1989 — Page 78

CONFIDENTIAL

21

PA

HKC062

ISTRY

12 JAN 1969.

ESGISTRY

To Heads of: MCAD

SEAD

FROM:

P YARNOLD DEFENCE DEPARTMENT

DATE: 5 January 1989

SED

FID

HKD

M.

wishing Ith has been

OUT-OF-AREA GARRISION REVIEW

eclubed from Cu Ale wasi

No achi

cr?

1. Following a request from the Chiefs of Staff, the MOD are preparing a review of all garrisons outside the NATO area. The object of the review is to take a general look at the requirement to maintain the various garrisons, while coming to the fairly obvious conclusion that they all need to be maintained for one reason or another. Thus the review is unlikely to reach any spectacular conclusions, although it may bring out points of detail of significance for the MOD.

2. At a meeting in December to discuss the review, which I attended, it was agreed that the FCO would supply brief annexes on the garrisons in belize, Brunei, Cyprus, Falkland Islands and Hong Kong. We have now been asked by the MOD to prepare these annexes. What is required is a brief statement of the historical, political, and commercial background to the British presence in each of the territories named. The MOD will, for their part, produce a text explaining the military reason for the British presence in the garrisons. I should be grateful therefore if you could provide me with brief drafts (a maximum of 3 sides please) by Tuesday 24 January.

P Yarnold

CONFIDENTIAL BANY