TNAG-2240-FCO40-3219-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Royal-Navy-presence-1991 — Page 199

121

0319352

SECRET

UK EYES ALPHA EXCLUSIVE

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIA

TELNO 1238

HONG KONG

OF 03150OZ JULY 91

SECRET/UK EYES ALPHA

EXCLUSIVE

HKB 063/1

AND TO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG

AND TO PRIORITY PEKING

INFO PRIORITY HQBFHK, BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

EXCLUSIVE FOR CBFAK

110

YOUR TELNOS 1931 ́AND 2120: HONG KONG GARRISON WITHDRAWAL OF THE FIRST BATTALION

1.

THE MOD HAVE AGREED THAT THE CHINESE CAN BE INFORMED ABOUT THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE FIRST BATTALION ON 5 JULY AS PROPOSED BY UKREP JLG IN YOUR TELNO 1931.

2.

HOWEVER, THE TERMS OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT TO BE MADE IN THE UK THIS MONTH HAVE NOT YET BEEN DECIDED. IT IS LIKELY THAT THE ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE LINKED TO ONE ON THE FUTURE OF THE GURKHAS. HOWEVER, FOR PURPOSES OF DISCUSSION WITH THE CHINESE YOU SHOULD INFORM THEM ONLY OF THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE FIRST BATTALION. THE MOD HAVE SUGGESTED THE FOLLOWING LINE FOR YOU TO DRAW ON:

IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR PLAN FOR A STAGED WITHDRAWAL OF THE GARRISON FROM HONG KONG BETWEEN NOW AND 1997, WE HAVE NOW CONFIRMED OUR PROVISIONAL DECISION TO REDUCE THE SIZE OF THE GARRISON FROM 4 BATTALIONS TO 3 BATTALIONS. THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE FIRST (GURKHA) BATTALION WILL BE CARRIED OUT BETWEEN APRIL AND SEPTEMBER 1992. 1 1

HURD

YYYY

NNNN

(OWEN)

ΜΑΙΝ

LIMITED

HKD C

SAD

NPDD

FED

SEAD

NEWS D

PLANNERS

PUSD

RAD

PS/LORD CAITHNESS

PS/MR LENNOX-BOYD

SIR J COLES

MR BURNS

ADDITIONAL

MS BARRETT, LEGAL ADVISERS

MISS BROOKS, LEGAL ADVISERS

MR APPLEYARD,

(CABINET OFFICE)

SECRET /uk

Coglin

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m

Mr G x ~ Mr Store for mys Major

197 Ms Cogen

EYES ALPHA

EXCLUSIVE