TNAG-2239-FCO40-3218-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Royal-Navy-presence-1991 — Page 140

101845Z

SECRET

UK

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ES A LOCSEN

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELNO 1097

OF 101100Z JUNE 91

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11/6

1991 REVIEW OF THE HONG KONG GARRISON OUTLINE WITHDRAWAL PLAN

1. THE MOD HAVE ASKED FOR COMMENTS ON THE DESK LEVEL DRAFT BY 17 JUNE. WHILE WE APPRECIATE THAT YOU DID NOT IN FACT RECEIVE A COPY UNTIL QUITE RECENTLY, IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL IF WE COULD HAVE YOUR COMMENTS BY THURSDAY 14 JUNE TO ENABLE US TO REPLY BEFORE THE DEADLINE.

OUR MAIN COMMENTS ON THE REPORT ARE AS FOLLOWS:

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(A) THE GENERAL THRUST OF THE REVIEW IS STRONGER FOR LONGER" AND EVENTS LEAD'. THE MAIN REASON FOR THIS APPEARS TO BE A WORRY THAT THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE (RHKP) MAY NOT BE CAPABLE OF TAKING ON THE DUTIES ENVISAGED IN THE TIME FRAME ENVISAGED IN THE 1989 REVIEW. THE CONCEPT OF "STRONGER FOR LONGER' IS ONE WHICH WE GENERALLY ENDORSE BUT WE CONSIDER THAT THE ASSESSMENT OF THE POLICE (PARTICULARLY PARAGRAPH 37) SHOULD BE REVISED. THE ARGUMENT THAT BECAUSE THE POLICE ARE NOW 1,100 MEN BELOW ESTABLISHMENT, THE OVERALL STRENGTH MAY FALL TO 20,000 BY MID-1997, IS OBVIOUSLY FATUOUS AND SHOULD BE REJECTED. WE WOULD ALSO INTEND TO QUERY THE SUGGESTION THAT THE RHKP HAS A DIMINISHING STATUS IN HONG KONG SOCIETY.

(B) THE PLAN MAKES NO SPECIFIC MENTION OF ANY CHANGES TO THE FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS OF THE GARRISON IN HONG KONG. IT WILL CLEARLY BE ESSENTIAL TO ESTABLISH FROM THE OUTSET THAT THE MOD SEE ANY STRONGER FOR LONGER DEPLOYMENT, FULLY WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE DCA.

(C) DO YOU PROPOSE TO INVOLVE LEGCO IN ANY WAY IN THE PLANS FOR THE RUN DOWN OF THE GARRISON? IF SO, COULD THEY TAKE A CONTRARY VIEW TO STRONGER FOR LONGER AND TRY TO INSIST HMG PAYS MORE?

THE

(D) PARA 75 SHOWS THAT, IF THE REVIEW IS ACCEPTED. EARLIEST THE SECOND BATTALION COULD BE WITHDRAWN IS EARLY 1995. WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR COMMENTS ON THE REDUCED FLEXIBILITY THIS WOULD PRODUCE.

(E) GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS ON THE PROPOSAL TO MAINTAIN TWO BATTALIONS UNTIL LATE 1996/EARLY 1997.

(F) ON AIR SUPPORT, YOU HAVE ALREADY SUGGESTED TO THE MOD THAT BOTH AIR ARMS MAY NOT BE REQUIRED. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR COMMENTS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE REVIEW.

HURD

MAIN LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

MD/ NEWS D Ho/ PLANNERS H3/ PUSD HA/ RAD

PS/LORD CAITHNESS

PS/MR LENNOX-BOYD

SIR J COLES

MR BURNS

ADDITIONAL

MS BARRETT, LEGAL ADVISERS

MISS BROOKS,

MR APPLEYARD,

LEGAL ADVISERS

CABINET OFFICE

SECRET/LON

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