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SECRET
HKB063/
SECRET
FM UKREP JLG HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 196
OF 14070OZ JUNE 91
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, PEK
190
152236
MDHIAN 1225
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17/1
PERSONAL FOR BURNS, AUSS
HONG KONG PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR
PEKING PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR
HONG KONG TELNO 1886: RN PRESENCE AFLOAT
1. TUR INVITED MY COMMENTS ON THE LIKELY CHINESE REACTION TO THE
WITHDRAWAL OF THE NAVAL PATROL CRAFT.
2. THE CHINESE WOULD CERTAINLY DISLIKE THE ACTION. ONE REASON FOR THIS WOULD BE THAT THEY WISH TO MAINTAIN THE SYMMETRY OF A TRI- SERVICE CHINESE PRESENCE TAKING OVER FROM A TRI-SERVICE BRITISH PRESENCE IN 1997. I WOULD NOT BE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS: WE HAVE NO OBJECTIVE NEED FOR SUCH A SYMMETRY.
3. THE CHINESE SUBSTANTIVE CONCERN ABOUT THE GARRISON IS LIKELY TO CENTRE ON BRITISH ABILITY TO MAINTAIN CONTROL IN HONG KONG UNTIL 1997. I ASSUME THAT THE PRESENCE OF THE PATROL CRAFT IS NOT VERY RELEVANT TO THIS, AND THAT THE CHINESE ARE THEREFORE UNLIKELY TO BE SERIOUSLY CONCERNED ON THIS SCORE.
5. WE THINK THAT THE MAIN DIRECT IMPACT ON THE CHINESE WOULD ARISE FROM THE EFFECT OF THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE PATROL CRAFT ON THE PROVISION OF NAVAL FACILITIES IN HONG KONG. AT PRESENT HKG ARE INTENDING TO FILL IN THE EXISTING NAVAL BASIN AND TO PROVIDE AN ALTERNATIVE NAVAL BASIN ON STONECUTTERS. I ASSUME THAT THE
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Redacted under FOI exemption section 27(1).
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