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1997 but selected the solution known as the 'Sovereign Force Phased
Withdrawal'(3). This determined that the strength of the garrison would reduce
from its current level of 4 battalions in stages during the period 1988-1997.
The reductions would be event-driven and not tied to a rigid timetable; in addi-
tion they would match but provide flexible overlap of the achievement of capabi-
lities by the RHKP. CDS 7/87 stipulated that the phased withdrawal of the
battalions should provide the main framework of the plan. All other events,
except for the withdrawal of the RN, must be related to the battalion
withdrawals.
The initial outline military withdrawal plan, summarised below, is
related diagramatically to the Police expansion plan at Annex A.
a.
Army. The Garrison would reduce by one (Gurkha) battalion to 3
resident battalions in about 1992 - once the RHKP have assumed
responsibility for half the border in 1991. It would reduce to 2 resident
battalions after the Police have assumed control of all the border
plus the major part of the garrison's IS, anti-II and special tasks - in
1993; this would permit withdrawal of a second (Gurkha) battalion "not
before 1994". The ultimate aim was, in principle, to reduce to a single
(UK) battalion as soon as possible in the period 1994-7.
b. Navy. CDS 7/87 saw a requirement for 3 HKPC at least until the intro-
duction into service of MARPOL's final 3 sector control (SC) launches in
1991 enabled their assumption of RN anti - II roles; the last 3 HKPC were
therefore planned for withdrawal once MARPOL was considered to be satisfac-
torily implementing these tasks.
3
The title "Sovereign Force Hong Kong" was conceived during the development of CDS 7/87. The case for its rejection is argued at paragraph 44.
6
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ROW 113 (HONG)
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