TNAG-1939-FCO40-2765-Future-of-Hong-Kong-defence-and-public-order-1989 — Page 13

SECRET UK EYES A

LOCSEN

AIM

3. The aim of this paper is to review CDS 7/87 - the outline plan for the withdrawal of the British Military Garrison from Hong Kong before 30 June 1997 - with the objective of determining whether planned force level reductions and the timescales initially planned for phased withdrawals require amendment.

PART ONE

POLITICAL BACKGROUND AND RÉSUMÉ OF CDS 7/87

POLITICAL ASPECTS

4.

Plans for the future of the British Military Garrison in Hong Kong must take full account of the political interests of the 3 Governments concerned - HMG, the People's Republic of China Government (PRCG) and the Hong Kong Government (HKG). For understandable reasons, the Chinese were not fully consulted in the early stages of development of the withdrawal plan; less account was therefore taken of their actual as opposed to their perceived views than of those of the other 2 Governments involved. Some of the changes and adjustments now necessary have come about as a result of debate in various Sino/UK Joint Liaison Group (JLG) sessions in 1987 and 1988. CDS 7/87 rehearsed the concerns and intentions of the 3 Governments at some length; these are summarised in paragraphs 5 to 7.

5.

The PRCG is

Chinese Perceptions and Intentions. preoccupied by dangers associated with instability in the transition period and would therefore wish and expect HMG to provide a guarantee of internal security (IS) by maintaining a significant military presence in Hong Kong up to 1997 and by using military force to prevent serious unrest if necessary until the final handover. The Chinese have

COS53.4-15

2 LOCSEN

UK EYES A

SECRET