TNAG-2239-FCO40-3218-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Royal-Navy-presence-1991 — Page 102

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of ENDURANCE on 17 June that the ship would be scrapped without replacement, a claim repeated in Parliament. Lord Shackleton has very much in mind that ENDURANCE was given

a major refit in the mid-1980s in order to carry it through to the end of its life in 1995. He was told in June 1989 by Mrs Thatcher that it was the Government's

"firm intention" to replace ENDURANCE: but she gave no

assurance that this would be by a ship of the Royal

Navy.

6.

The Defence Secretary says that a replacement for

ENDURANCE would cost £70m. The BAS and SWAG between

them, and the latter includes some former captains of ENDURANCE, claim that a Norwegian vessel with all the capability of ENDURANCE and with a stronger structure could be bought "off the shelf" with a helicopter pad for £25m. Helicopters, of course, would be extra. They also say that a number of appropriate secondhand ships are on the market at much cheaper prices.

7.

Although the announcement in 1981 that ENDURANCE would be withdrawn encouraged the Argentines to invade the Falklands, there is little likelihood that history will repeat itself, given the vastly increased defence forces on the Islands. Whilst in the public's eye ENDURANCE still remains a potent symbol of HMG's commitment to the Falklands, more important today is the

ship's role in Antarctica. The draft minute concentrates on that aspect of the ship's activities. Nonetheless an announcement of withdrawal is likely provoke a great deal

of criticism concentrating on the Falklands context, both in Parliament and the press. The Legislative Councillors have today sent a message to Mr Garel-Jones expressing concern about the press reports which have already

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