TNAG-2240-FCO40-3219-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Royal-Navy-presence-1991 — Page 152

CONFIDENTIAL

Mr Paul I suggest

an eschra two sentences in para 4.

DRAFT FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO:

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE

pil Mycogen

HKD

M Store,

This looks ok IC

me. NPDDhane caked for urgent

Gilli Coglin 1917

comment!"

Out of Area Defence Commitments

1. In my minutes of 18 June and 4 July about HMS

Endurance and the Hong Kong Patrol Craft respectively, I

said taht

ht I wished to take stock of these issues in the

wider context of our other out of area responsibilities,

especially the defence of our Dependent Territories as a

whole.

2. It is clear that our deployments, for the most part,

derive from inescapable commitments and requirements and relate primarily to the defence of our remaining Dependent Territories in several of which we have a strong foreign policy interest. My understanding is that in these circumstances it is unlikely that any

substantial changes would be contemplated as part of the Options for Change review.

3. Nevertheless there is pressure on us to accept changes relating to some of these commitments which cause me considerable concern. This applies first of all to

HMS Endurance and the Hong Kong Patrol Craft. In both

cases there are powerful arguments in terms of bilateral relations and Dependent Territory interests in favour or

retention. In the case of Endurance the symbolism is of

VR9ADK

CONFIDENTIAL