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Once
seek Ministerial approval for the consequent programme changes. that is forthcoming, the alternative assumptions will acquire Category X status and automatically find a place in the programme. In order to fit in with the timing of the LTC process, it will be necessary to obtain COS and Ministerial approvals by the end of November 1991.
108. It is however, important to remember that a vital tenet of the Withdrawal Plan is that it remains flexible to accommodate future
changes to the threat assessment, slippages of the police expansion plan and swings in the Hong Kong population's confidence. Therefore assets should not be mortgaged irretrievably in LTC thereby largely negating the event-led quality of the
the plan. To this end, if a
decision has yet to be made on the withdrawal of a unit or other asset supporting the Garrison, the assumption should be that it will remain until judged
judged surplus to requirements rather than be withdrawn
prematurely.
PART FOUR
-
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS
SUMMARY
109. Timing of Publication of this Review. The 1991 Review is the major review originally scheduled to be undertaken in 1992, 5 years before the final withdrawal. Its release date is critical since the Chinese are expecting a major review in 1992, and they will be sensitive to any timescale revision. (paragraph 2).
110. Changes since the 1989 Review.
a.
The last 2 years have seen some dramatic changes in China which have had a very considerable knock-on effect in Hong Kong. Hong Kong public opinion remains potentially volatile to perceived changes in attitude by the Chinese Government and it is vital that this is taken into account in our planning for an orderly withdrawal in June 1997. (paragraph 4).
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