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as decisions have still to be made about the future of the Brigade of
Gurkhas and the UK commitment to the CLM. In summary, however, the
studies recommend that command and control of, and support for, these
stations passes to HQ ULKF well before final withdrawal with enough
time to provide a reasonable safety margin in which to resolve
teething problems.
THE FINAL 6 MONTHS
98. The first 6 months of 1997 will witness the final withdrawal of
British Forces from our last remaining major dependant territory, with
the residual Garrison being one of the few tangible manifestations of
the sovereignty that will be relinquished. As such, its role and
actions and its method of departure is likely to be the subject of
considerable international scrutiny. The aim will be to achieve this
departure with dignity and honour; although here much will depend on
the situation at the time.
99.
that
There is little point at this distance trying to predict what
situation might be. However, it is important at this stage to
a number of "bull points" concerning the shape and posture of
the Garrison in the final period, together with the likely mechanism
for its departure. Annex D covers these points in some detail, but clearly this aspect of the Withdrawal Plan will have to be scrutinised
in increasing detail in the 1993 and 1995 Reviews respectively.
JTP 30.
REINFORCEMENT PLANS
100. JTP 30, covering the reinforcement of Hong Kong, was revised
during 1990 and a new version was published in November 1990. The
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