TNAG-2238-FCO40-3217-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Royal-Navy-presence-1991 — Page 30

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A YEAR. WE WOULD OF COURSE THEN HAVE TO MAKE MAXIMUM USE OF THE PATROL CRAFT AND CUT OUT ALL FRILLS. AMONGST OTHER THINGS, THIS WOULD MEAN NO OVERSEAS VISITS WHICH, THIS YEAR, TAKE UP SOME 50

DAYS.

5. A REDUCTION FROM THREE TO TWO PATROL CRAFT WOULD SEVERELY LIMIT THE FLEXIBILITY OF THE ROYAL NAVY IN HONG KONG. IT WOULD HAVE AN EFFECT ON OUR ABILITY TO DEAL WITH CPV INCURSIONS. IN MILITARY TERMS, IT IS NOT THE RIGHT DEPLOYMENT OF RESOURCES TO MEET THE TASK. NEVERTHELESS I BELIEVE THAT THE LOSS OF OPERATIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT FOR THE MARINE POLICE WOULD NOT BE SO GREAT AS TO BE UNACCEPTABLE, PARTICULARLY IF THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE IS THE WITHDRAWAL OF ALL THREE PATROL CRAFT. RETAINING THREE CREWS WOULD HELP.

6. THE CONCLUSION I DRAW FROM THIS IS THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO FUND 100 PERCENT OF ANY OF THE EXISTING GARRISON ACTIVITIES WITHOUT GOING TO FINANCE COMMITTEE. THIS WOULD OF COURSE NEGATE THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THE EXERCISE. BUT BY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF PATROL CRAFT FROM THREE TO TWO, WE COULD SAVE MOD ABOUT HKD8.75 MILLION PER YEAR (I.E. OVER 3 MILLION POUNDS IN THE FIVE YEARS 1992-7). IN ADDITION, MOD WOULD PRESUMABLY OBTAIN A FURTHER CAPITAL SUM FROM THE SALE OF THE THIRD PATROL CRAFT. IN OPERATIONAL AND SECURITY TERMS THIS APPROACH IS FAR FROM IDEAL. BUT IT WOULD BE BETTER THAN HAVING TO DISPENSE WITH ALL THREE

PATROL CRAFT.

7. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS ON THIS APPROACH BEFORE WE PUT

ANYTHING IS PUT TO MOD.

WILSON

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