TNAG-1940-FCO40-2766-Future-of-Hong-Kong-defence-and-public-order-1989 — Page 10

'99 11:12 FROM COI TECH RADIO

TRANSCRIPT C PORBIGE SEC LONG TONG

FROM BGNG FOR CDI RADIO TECHNICAL SERVICES

TRANSCRIPT OF PRESS CONFERRICE

GIVEN BY THE FOREIGN SECRETARY, SIR GEOFFREY HOVE,

IN HONG KONG,

ON TUESDAY, 4 JULY 1989

TRAESCRIPT C (CONTINUED FROM TRAINSCRIPT B)

QUESTION:

According to the timetable, in 1992 the first Gurkha

Battalion of 48 BK will be withdrawn from Hong Kong. Do you think it is wise to run down the Gurkhas in the 1990s when they may be required even more than ever to provide stability in Hong Kong and to cope with disorders that may arise?

FORBIGE SECRETARY:

I think the most important consideration that must be taken into account in addressing that question is the provision in the Joint Declaration that Bong Kang should be responsible for its own Internal security. It is for that reason that the Hong Kong Police Force establishment has been growing in the years since the Joint Declaratim was made,