TNAG-2122-FCO40-3028-Future-of-the-Brigade-of-Gurkhas-in-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 71

Сари

лев. 417

Care Sly IFM.

он

C Mr. Mclaren;

облани

My undereranding (from the Defence Option's exercise) is then mos realise ther

love

yeri

HKC 002/5

FIVER

FROM: A R Paul

*

X

1001990

Hong Kong Department

DATE: 3 July 1990

Commitment & the Curkhas cannor be brought

into doubt now but

Mr Williams

SAD

cc: Mr McLaren

basie

certainly worth nailing Mots down firmly

of para 2.

мож

THE GURKHAS IN HONG KONG

an

Mr Goulden

Mr Burns

cc The Boyons

Thymiams, Mr Paul, Hai

SADD

I have discurred with

The Goulden

we should make

m

а

He Ikmica

the posil

Ministry wit

1. M. Hamilton

+

Thei

could go-eith form in Mand

or from Love Bakugan. ! favour the former, surse the main fome we want to make

Hong Kong one.

1 λ

Wohlt-midnite

an

WE

extract

1. During his visit to London last week the Governor of from the Hong Kong raised the future of the Gurkhas with the reas if it has Secretary of State and with the Prime Minister.

hot already wren

copied to the Mod.

2. The relevant extract from the record of the Governor's meeting with the Prime Minister reads as follows:

3.

"The Governor enquired about the implications of the study of future options for our defence for the Gurkhas

in Hong Kong.

The Prime Minister said that we could not

allow the Hong Kong commitment to be changed, or forces run down beyond what had already been agreed for the period between now and 1997. She would be absolutely

firm on that point."

It is for consideration whether we might follow up the Prime Minister's comment by putting down a marker with the Ministry of Defence at Ministerial level about the importance of the Gurkhas to Hong Kong. The Governor has expressly asked that we should do so.

ASHAEA

CONFIDENTIAL