3
SECRET
HKB 063/1
l'a
(47)
132431
MDLIAN 5479
SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO
1219
OF 23113OZ APRIL 91
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
HONG KONG GARRISON: WITHDRAWAL OF FIRST BATTALION
1. CBF HAS SOUGHT MY FORMAL AGREEMENT TO A REDUCTION IN INFANTRY FORCE LEVELS IN HONG KONG FROM FOUR BATTALIONS TO THREE FROM OCTOBER 1992. THIS REDUCTION WILL BE EFFECTED BY THE AMALGAMATION OF 1/2 AND 2/2 GURKHA RIFLES. CBF PROPOSES TO INFORM THOSE CONCERNED THIS SUMMER, AFTER MOD HAS DECIDED THE TERMS OF SETTLEMENT FOR PERSONNEL AFFECTED, AND WHETHER OR NOT THE AMALGAMATION SHOULD BE PRESENTED AS PART OF A PACKAGE COVERING THE FUTURE OF THE BRIGADE OF GURKHAS.
2. AS THE PROPOSED REDUCTION IN FORCE LEVELS WILL ALMOST
CERTAINLY BECOME PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE ONCE THOSE AFFECTED HAVE BEEN
INFORMED WE NEED TO ADVISE THE CHINESE OF OUR PLANS BEFORE THIS HAPPENS.
·
WE NEED NOT
THEREFORE, AT THIS STAGE LINK
THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE FIRST BATTALION WITH THE SUBSEQUENT WITHDRAWAL PLANS BETWEEN 1993 AND 1997.
3. SUBJECT TO ANY COMMENTS YOU MAY HAVE, WE PROPOSE TO INFORM EXCO OF THESE PROPOSALS IN MAY, AND THEREAFTER TELL THE CHINESE ONCE MOD HAS DECIDED WHEN THEY INTEND TO ADVISE THE GURKHA PERSONNEL AFFECTED. UKREP JLG HONG KONG CONCURS.
4. COULD YOU PLEASE ENSURE THAT MOD FULLY RECOGNISES THE
IMPORTANCE OF CO-ORDINATING ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS ON THIS ISSUE WITH YOU AND US.
WILSON
YYYY
PAGE 1 SECRET
Redacted Under FOI Exemption Sec 27(1)
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