TNAG-2238-FCO40-3217-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Royal-Navy-presence-1991 — Page 23

3009232

REFERRED MR PAUL HKD

LNM N 7669

SECRET

00 FCOLN

HMLNAN 8817

FM HOKC TO FCOLN

3008297 APR

GRS 358

SECRET

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 1304

OF 300829Z APRIL 91

INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

PERSONAL FOR PAUL, HKD FROM GOVERNOR

YRTELNO 824: HONG KONG PATROL CRAFT

А

M

(Mr Kox)

Mr Stone

pl oft a

short submissi

recommending a mity beliem SAS / DS.

1. I AGREE THAT THE RIGHT MOVE NOW WOULD BE FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO HAVE A FURTHER WORD WITH THE DEFENCE SECRETARY AND TO SUGGEST THAT THE ONLY PRACTICAL WAY TO CUT THE GORDIAN KNOT IS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PATROL CRAFT FROM THREE TO TWO. DOING THIS WOULD SAVE THE MOD A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY WITHOUT PRODUCING THE POLITICAL PROBLEMS WHICH WOULD INEVITABLY FOLLOW FROM AN APPROACH TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE ON CHANGED ARRANGEMENTS FOR FUNDING.

2. REDUCING THE NUMBER OF PATROL CRAFT FROM THREE TO TWO MAY NOT PRODUCE EXACTLY THE AMOUNT OF SAVINGS FOR WHICH MOD WERE

ORIGINALLY LOOKING. BUT IT DOES SEEM TO BE THE ONLY PRACTICAL WAY OF MOVING FORWARD. THERE WOULD BE A COST IN TERMS OF EFFECTIVE SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS: BUT I JUDGE THAT THIS WOULD BE CONSIDERABLY LESS THAT THE POLITICAL COSTS OF TRYING FOR DIFFERENT FUNDING ARRANGEMENTS.

3. HQBF HAVE LOOKED CAREFULLY AT THE POSSIBILITY OF INCREASING LOCAL MANNING OF THE PATROL CRAFT. ALREADY 50 PERCENT OF THE CREWS ARE LOCAL. THEY HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THERE IS NO SCOPE FOR FURTHER LOCALISATION. WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND ANY OTHER SERVICES PERFORMED BY THE GARRISON WHICH FALL OUTSIDE THE FRAMEWORK OF THE DCA RELATED DUTIES. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU OR THE MOD HAVE ANY OTHER IDEAS.

4. I AM WILLING TO SEND A HONG KONG TEAM TO LONDON TO WRAP UP DETAILS ONCE WE KNOW WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. I CANNOT HOWEVER SEE A CASE FOR SENDING THEM OFF INTO THE BLUE WITHOUT ANY MEETING OF MINDS OVER WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE. AS I SEE IT, THE SENSIBLE WAY FORWARD IS FOR MINISTERS TO AGREE ON A GENERAL APPROACH AND THEN FOR OFFICIALS TO GET TOGETHER TO ARRANGE THE DETAILS.

5. AS I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND, WE HAVE BEEN MAKING MAJOR EFFORTS TO FIND A RESOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM WHICH BOTH DEALS WITH THE REAL SECURITY NEEDS AND AVOIDS A MAJOR POLITICAL ROW WHICH WOULD BE DAMAGING TO THE UK. I HOPE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THESE EFFORTS, AND THE VERY REAL DIFFICULTIES IN ANY OTHER COURSE OF ACTION, ARE FULLY APPRECIATED IN THE MOD.

WILSON

(through

me

please)

W 304

YYYY