TNAG-1939-FCO40-2765-Future-of-Hong-Kong-defence-and-public-order-1989 — Page 114

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16 Sep 88

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HONG KONG WITHDRAWAL PLAN

1.

ز

ANNEX B TO

D CTS STAFF(R)76/259/15 DATED

MAY 1989

During my recent visit, CBF Hong Kong expressed his concern about decisions made in the Ministry which impinge upon the Hong Kong Withdrawal Plan. He said that decisions made against the backdrop of pressure dictating LTC assumptions and savings must nevertheless take into account factors peculiar to his situation. These included: the ability of the Royal Hong Kong Police to assume roles currently fulfilled by the Services; the obligation to seek the agreement of the Chinese Government to the measures taken; and the operational roles he is required to fulfil. Overall, CBF pointed out that the concept of the plan was that it be event rather than time driven. To all this I add the political and diplomatic profile which CBF has to sustain within the Colony.

2. Whilst I understand fully the need to make assumptions against LTC and the pressure on individual sponsors tasked to make savings, I feel obliged to draw your attention to an apparently developing dislocation between what we are doing in London and the situation in Hong Kong. Because of influences outside the Services' domain, the Withdrawal Plan is already exhibiting disturbing signs of falling behind schedule with little prospect of these being remedied. We are, furthermore, at the delicate stage between establishment and implementation of the plan. I therefore feel we must take care to avoid further exacerbating the situation as a result of LTC assumptions necessarily formulated on a foundation that may no longer reflect the current situation in the Colony. Individual sponsors should also be wary of the temptation to seek manpower and equipment savings/rationalizations that might prove to be similarly out of context.

3. CBF Hong Kong is currently developing his operational concept in parallel with the revised Directive he is to receive shortly from CDS. I have directed that he completes this process by 1 January 1989. The Withdrawal Plan itself is to be considered at a meeting of the Hong Kong Steering Committee (HKSC) scheduled for 5 October 1988 with an eye to forwarding revisions, as appropriate, for approval by COS next Spring. It would be advantageous if the review's findings are incorporated in LTC planning. dimension will be addressed by the HKSC. In the interim, I would ask that a brake be placed upon resource-related decisions while these staffing processes are progressed.

ACFN

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