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CONFIDENTIAL
Redacted under FOI exemption 27(1)
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MOHOAN 1640
THE PRESENT POSITION IN HONG KONG
5. RECRUITMENT FOR THE FIRST TWO PTU COMPANIES IS NOW AT AN ADVANCED STAGE. PROVISION FOR RECRUITMENT OF THE SECOND TWO COMPANIES WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S 1989-90 BUDGET
ON THIS BASIS
THE BRITISH SIDE ARE SATISFIED THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PTU EXPANSION PLANS IS ON COURSE TO PERMIT THE PTU TO RESUME FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR HALF THE BORDER, AS PLANNED, IN THE COURSE OF 1991. HAVING CAREFULLY REVIEWED THE SITUATION IN HONG KONG, AND PARTICULARLY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S PROGRESS TOWARDS EXPANDING THE PTU, THE BRITISH SIDE PLAN TO WITHDRAW ONE INFANTRY BATTALION FROM HONG KONG IN MID-1992. THIS TIMING IS FULLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PLANNING ORIGINALLY DESCRIBED IN PAPER II (PARAGRAPH 19):
REVIEW OF THE BRIGADE OF GURKHAS
6. THE BATTALION TO BE WITHDRAWN WILL BE A GURKHA BATTALION, THE BRIGADE OF GURKHAS INCLUDES IN ALL FIVE INFANTRY BATTALIONS, THREE OF WHICH ARE STATIONED IN HONG KONG. THERE HAS BEEN CONSIDERABLE INTEREST IN THE UK, IN NEPAL AND AMONG THE GURKHAS THEMSELVES CONCERNING THE FUTURE DEPLOYMENT OF THE BRIGADE. HAS BEEN SPECULATION THAT THE FIRST GURKHA BATTALION TO BE WITHDRAWN FROM HONG KONG WILL BE DISBANDED.
THIS HAS GENERATED CONSIDERABLE UNCERTAINTY WHICH COULD, IF IT REMAINED UNRESOLVED, HAVE AN ADVERSE EFFECT ON MORALE AMONG THE GURKHAS AND CONSEQUENTLY ON THEIR ABILITY TO PERFORM THEIR DUTIES EFFECTIVELY IN HONG KONG AND ELSEWHERE. THE HOUSE OF COMMONS DEFENCE COMMITTEE HAS INSTITUTED ITS OWN ENQUIRY INTO THE FUTURE
• OF THE BRIGADE. THERE IS A HIGH EXPECTATION AMONG ALL CONCERNED THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WILL IN THE NEAR FUTURE MAKE A STATEMENT ON THE FUTURE OF THE BRIGADE. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAVE CONCLUDED THAT SUCH A STATEMENT SHOULD BE MADE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, AND INTEND TO DO SO IN EARLY 1989. THERE HAS BEEN SPECULATION THAT THE FIRST GURKHA BATTALION TO BE WITHDRAWN FROM HONG KONG WILL BE DISBANDED.
7. THE FUTURE OF THE FIRST GURKHA BATTALION TO BE WITHDRAWN FROM HONG KONG IS CENTRAL TO THE FUTURE OF THE BRIGADE AS A WHOLE. IN ORDER TO ALLAY UNCERTAINTY OVER THIS KEY ELEMENT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT INTEND THAT THE STATEMENT TO BE MADE IN EARLY 1989
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