TNAG-2122-FCO40-3028-Future-of-the-Brigade-of-Gurkhas-in-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 24

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SECRET AND PERSONAL

FROM:

RJT McLaren

HKC 062.15.

DATE:

5 November 1990

CC:

RAT

PS/PUS

Mr Broomfield Mr Goulden

1990

PUS'S LUNCH FOR CHIEFS OF STAFF: 5 NOVEMBER:

1.

GURKHAS

The PUS raised the future of the Gurkhas at today's lunch for the Chiefs of Staff, mentioning the concerns outlined in Mr Lennox-Boyd's letter of 22 October to Mr Hamilton and your minute of 2 November. He asked whether there was anything CDS could say about the likely outcome of "options for change" as it affected the Gurkhas. CDS's first answer was "no" but CGS was more communicative. He said that a paper was being prepared which outlined a number of options for the Gurkhas. There was some five of these options, all but one of which were worse from the Gurkhas point of view than the present situation. It was the intention that once the MOD had reached preliminary conclusions they should be discussed with the FCO. Neither the CGS nor anyone else was prepared to forecast what those conclusions would be - option of no change was a non-starter.

except that the

2. CDS remarked at one point that Mr Hamilton's first reaction on receiving Mr Lennox-Boyd's letter was to respond that the future of the Gurkhas was none of the FCO's

business. He had, however, been calmed down and

Mr Lennox-Boyd would receive a polite reply on the lines

· indicated above.

TRAAAO

RJT MCLAREN

SECRET AND PERSONAL

Miss Marsden

5%

W

Mr Stone 7/1

RM7/11