TNAG-2240-FCO40-3219-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Royal-Navy-presence-1991 — Page 132

For Information on 2 July 1991

INTRODUCTION

SECRET

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NOTE FOR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

REDUCTION IN GARRISON FORCE LEVELS

Put with Garrison

ale.

15/7

The

Infantry force levels in Hong Kong are to be reduced from four battalions to three from October 1992. reduction will be effected by the amalgamation of 1/2 and 2/2 Gurkha Rifles.

etween

Apid

sepa 1992

2

BACKGROUND

The

Redacted Under FOI Exemption Sec 27(1)

preliminary garrison withdrawal arrangements ENTRENANTENNAS provided for the withdrawal of the first infantry battalion in 1992 or 1993. Members were informed in January 1989 that progress with planning and recruitment for the resumption of border duties by the police had been such that a more precise date, viz. late 1992, could be set for withdrawing the first battalion.

3

The police took over the first of the three sectors of the land border in December 1990, and are due to replace the army in the second and third sectors in September 1991 and April 1992 respectively. Allowing for a few months of overlap to cover any contingencies, the Commander British Forces proposes to reduce the size of the garrison by one Gurkha battalion from October 1992 and, at that time, to release Burma Lines to the Hong Kong Government for use by the Police Tactical Unit Field Patrol Detachment. reduction should be completed by 1 April 1993.

The

ANNOUNCEMENT

4

In

We intend to inform the Chinese of the proposed reduction in

the near future. The Gurkha personnel affected will then be told before it becomes public knowledge. response to media enquiries, we shall say that the proposed reduction arises from the resumption by the Police of partial responsibility for the border, and that the level and timing of future reductions in infantry force levels are kept under