TNAG-1938-FCO40-2764-Future-of-Hong-Kong-defence-and-public-order-1989 — Page 96

Redacted

under FOI

exemption

section 27(1)

SECRET UK EYES A LOCSEN

46B

1994 remains a valid timescale for withdrawal of the second (Gurkha) bat-

talion because the HKG shares the view of MODUK and HQBFHK that a one year gap

between achievement of the Police capability and the second reduction is advi-

sable.

LTC

provision is currently based on the assumption that a second Gurkha battalion

will not be withdrawn until 1996. It is also noteworthy that when CBF Hong

Kong's revised Concept of Operations received the Governor's endorsement in Dec

88, the Governor stated he envisaged a need for 2 resident battalions until the

final handover (rather than having the third battalion withdraw early in the

final phase as had been desired by HKG in the early days of planning (Paragraph

10a above and paragraph 45, which records EXCO's current view, refer). A deci-

sion on this issue need not be finalised at this stage, but for the record, as

such a change would have LTC implications, the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB) will need to be involved in the staffing process.

21. Battalion Withdrawals Timescales. Presuming that the Police have assumed

responsibility for half the border by the end of 1991, it is judged that the

withdrawal of the first (Gurkha) battalion should be planned for mid 1992; this

battalion should be declared non-operational early in the year and redeployed or

disbanded (4) in the second half of that year. Thereafter, the second (Gurkha)

'Disbandment' of the first battalion withdrawn may more accurately be described as 'amalgamation'. The latter term has therefore been adopted for use throughout the remainder of this paper.

ROW 113 (HONG)

14

SECRET UK EYES A LOCSEN