TNAG-1937-FCO40-2763-Future-of-Hong-Kong-defence-and-public-order-1989 — Page 73

PLANNING FACTORS

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17.

All the planning factors recorded in CDS 7/87 remain valid.

Two in par-

ticular are worthy of emphasis:

a. Retention of Flexibility. It remains vital that the withdrawal plan

provides flexibility to accommodate future changes to the threat

assessment, slippage of the Police expansion plan and swings in the popula-

tion's confidence driven by such factors as the international financial

situation or potentially unsatisfactory implementation of the provisions of

the 1984 Joint Declaration.

b.

Preservation of Confidence.

The preservation of public confidence in

the security and stability of Hong Kong in the years prior to 1997 is cru-

cial; public perception of the credibility of the forces of law and order

the police supported by the military - will remain a keystone of this

process; this must not be overlooked despite other considerations which

may be brought to bear on judgement of the Garrison's strength in the

future.

18.

In addition to the above, 2 issues were developed during 1988, which

have assumed importance as planning factors:

a. Revised Roles and Tasks and Revised Directive. In acknowledgement of

Hong Kong's changed situation since the signing of the Joint Declaration in

1984, MOD proposed changes to the role and tasks of the garrison; these

were agreed by Min (AF) in Mar 88. In essence these involved a change from

conventional limited war (LW) to resist Chinese aggression, to a more

ROW 113 (HONG)

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