TNAG-1938-FCO40-2764-Future-of-Hong-Kong-defence-and-public-order-1989 — Page 111

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sovereignty and HMG's continuing political commitment to the Territory

throughout the phased withdrawal. However, the FCO have expressed concern about

formal or public adoption of this title. The FCO have made the point that the

garrison has had responsibility for demonstration of British sovereignty over

the Territory for well over a century without resort to any special title. They

have observed, that it would not be readily explicable why HMG should choose to

make the point less than a decade before relinquishing sovereignty. They

suggest that the Hong Kong public would find it richly ironic and that the

Chinese, who have never acknowledged British sovereignty over Hong Kong would be

perplexed and irritated by a gesture they would perhaps interpret as provoca-

tion. For these reasons, it is proposed that the term "Sovereign Force Hong

Kong" be discarded and that the garrison retain the title "Hong Kong Garrison"

until the final handover.

EXCO MEETING OF 28 FEB 89

45. EXCO considered a summary of this paper, prepared by the FCO in con-

sultation with MOD, on 28 Feb 89. This procedure was authorised so that an

indication of the HKG's views regarding aspects of the first revise of CDS 7/87

could be reflected in the paper itself. The following considerations are par-

ticularly relevant:

a. The Conclusions of the Review. EXCO endorsed the conclusions.

b.

Retention of a Naval Presence and Two Battalions. EXCO recorded that

it might well be in Hong Kong's interests to 'retain a naval presence and 2

battalions up to 1997 (the latter is not a recommendation of this paper).

They stated it was now apparent

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ROW 113 (HONG)

Redacted under FOI exemption section 27(1)