TNAG-1936-FCO40-2762-Future-of-Hong-Kong-defence-and-public-order-1989 — Page 93

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MDHOAN 1840

ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE GURKHAS SHOULD INCLUDE AN ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE WITHDRAWAL OF THIS BATTALION FROM HONG KONG IN MID-1992 AND

ITS DISPOSITION AFTER THAT DATE. ONE OPTION WOULD BE TO

RE-DEPLOY THE BATTALION. ANOTHER WOULD BE THAT THE BATTALION CONCERNED SHOULD BE DISBANDED. IN EITHER EVENT, AN ANNOUNCEMENT ON ITS FUTURE WILL HAVE TO BE MADE AT THE SAME TIME AS THE PLANNED ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE BRIGADE AS A WHOLE. SUCH AN ANNOUNCEMENT WILL NOT MAKE ANY REFERENCE TO FUTURE WITHDRAWALS

FROM HONG KONG.

8. THE BRITISH SIDE REMAIN FULLY COMMITTED TO MAINTAINING

SECURITY AND STABILITY IN HONG KONG AT ALL TIMES UP TO 1997. THE

BRITISH SIDE HAVE ALSO UNDERTAKEN TO KEEP THE CHINESE SIDE INFORMED OF THEIR PLANNING THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS OF WITHDRAWAL OF THE GARRISON, IN PARTICULAR AT THE TIME OF THE MAJOR REVIEW WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE IN 1992. THEY WILL CONTINUE TO CARRY OUT THAT UNDERTAKING TO THE FULL.

HOWE

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ΜΑΙΝ

18

LIMITED

HKD

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DISTRIBUTION

18

FED

MR MCLAREN

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