TNAG-1936-FCO40-2762-Future-of-Hong-Kong-defence-and-public-order-1989 — Page 80

A

CONFIDENTIAL

Redacted

lunder FOI exemption 27(1)

16

150035 MDHIAN 7979

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 110

OF 101043Z JANUARY 89

INFO IMMEDIATE MODUK

INDO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

COPY

SDOT ? UT

HKC062/

10 SANK

SIC

MODUK FOR SECLB) (C)

N

*OUR TELNO 34: DEFENCE AND PUBLIC ORDER: WITHDRAWAL OF GARRISON

1. EXCO CONSIDERED THIS MORNING THE DRAFT PAPER FOR THE CHINESE ON THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE FIRST BATTALION. MEMBERS WERE GENERALLY CONTENT

WITH THE PAPER AND WITH THE LINE TO TAKE. THE ONLY POINT ARISING WAS THE SUGGESTION THAT WE SHOULD NOT COMMIT OURSELVES FORMALLY TO THE CONCEPT OF AGREEING WITH THE CHINESE ANY EXPANSION OF THE POLICE FORCE (SECOND SENTENCE OF PARA 5): THIS COULD BE A STICK TO BEAT OURSELVES WITH IN FUTURE. WE SEE FORCE IN THIS POINT

2. ON REFLECTION, WE ALSO THINK THAT PARAGRAPH 4 SHOULD BE EXPANDED FOR THE SAKE OF CLARITY TO CONTAIN A REFERENCE TO THE WHOLE PTU BORDER DETACHMENT PROGRAMME AND TO EXPLAIN WHY WE WILL TAKE OVER ONLY HALF THE BORDER WITH OUR COMPANIES BUT THE WHOLE BORDER WITH SIX. THE WORDING WE SUGGEST IS:

BEGIN QUOTE

4. THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S PROGRAMME FOR ESTABLISHING THE NEW PTU DETACHMENT ENVISAGES THAT THE FIRST TWO COMPANIES WILL BE FORMED IN 1990-91, CONE WILL BE DEPLOYED ON OPERATIONS AND ONE FOR TRAINING). THE SECOND TWO COMPANIES IN 1991-92 (WHEN TWO WILL BE ON OPERATIONS, ONE FOR TRAINING AND ONE IN RESERVE) AND A FINAL TWO COMPANIES IN 1992-93 (WHEN FOUR WILL BE ON OPERATIONS, ONE FOR TRAINING AND ONE IN RESERVE). UNQUOTE ENDS.

3. GRATEFUL FOR CONFIRMATION THAT YOU ARE CONTENT WITH THESE CHANGES.

1

PAGE

CONFIDENTIAL