TNAG-2239-FCO40-3218-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Royal-Navy-presence-1991 — Page 37

From: Mr N Bevan CB, Assistant Under Secretary of State. (Commitments)

ET MON.

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

Main Building, Whitehall, London SW1A 2HB

Telephone (Direct Dialling) 01-218

(Switchboard) 01-218 9000

+

AUS(C) 4/7/2 (194/91)

R A Burns Esq

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Far Eastern Department

King Charles Street London SW1A 2AH

Dear Andows,

Анда

Mr. Bali Hog

HKD 063/1

09 JUL 199.

112

4 July 1991 $ 417

Ke M. Wilhains: 94.)

57. Colmin: SEXY

ery attached

серу

As I believe you and

Thank you for your letter of 21 June. your staff are already aware, my Ministers have agreed that the Chinese should be informed on 5 July of our intention to reduce the size of the Hong Kong garrison by one battalion.

The only point I should make is that the information given to the Chinese should be confined simply to the fact that the size of the garrison will be reduced by one Gurkha battalion in the period from April to September 1992, in accordance with our plans for the staged withdrawal of the garrison between now and 1997. They need be told nothing about our plans to amalgamate 1/2 and 2/2 Gurkha Rifles, nor anything about the future of the Gurkhas as a whole. I should be grateful if you could ensure that the message passed to JLG Hong Kong reflects this.

pa

Ms

Love ever

Nicolas

Gary, 417 Has 15€ tel 15étel

Mologhin iyo?

4/1