TNAG-2238-FCO40-3217-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Royal-Navy-presence-1991 — Page 45

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of Staff do not endorse these views.)

A political case resting on:

Redacted Under FOI Exemption Sec 27(1)

(b) the Governor's assessment, made in the aftermath

of the events of June 1989, that the Hong Kong community needed some reassurance from the continuing presence of

the Royal Navy Patrol Craft as a visible sign of British

sovereignty;

(c) the strategic consideration: if the patrol

vessels were to be withdrawn it would be seen in Peking

and Hong Kong as a clear signal of a diminution of our

commitment. (eg the Falklands precedent, with the

withdrawal of HMS Endurance in 1981).

(d) Hong Kong's contribution of £15.5 million towards

HMG's Gulf costs was passed by the Finance Committee

only after acrimonious debate. For HKG to have to

seek new funds for retaining the vessels shortly

after that debate would dramatically raise the

temperature: which was already high over the Defence

Costs Agreement (DCA) negotiations in 1988.

MOPADZ/2

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