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UK EYES A LOCSEN
ITEM 3C - C2 IN THE FAR EAST IN THE RUN-UP TO 1997
24. CBF stated that this subject was summarized in the Withdrawal Plan. It was necessary to transfer command of Brunei to HQ UKLF in April 96. A small number of enhancements would be necessary as a result. The future command of British Gurkhas Nepal was predicated on their withdrawal before 1 April 1996. As far as Korea was concerned, sooner or later BFHK would be unable to provide administrative support for the platoon and the Commonwealth Liaison Mission. CBF stated that MOD must make a decision on the future of the commitment which would need to be addressed in the 1993 Review. Mr Hatfield commented that SofS wished to identify marginal Defence Commitments and therefore their future might be faced sooner rather than later. CBF said that UN presence in Korea was likely to run on for a long time. BFHK could provide support until at least the withdrawal of the third battalion. After that it might be a problem.
ITEM 3D
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LEP/LEC UPDATE
DROW
Sec (O) (C)
25. CBF started by saying that the Garrison was utterly dependent on LEP to see them through to 1997. They needed to be managed in a sensible, caring fashion. HQ BFHK had already had to get rid of 300 older people last year whom they had actually wanted to retain. Because of the issue date of the new passports, it would not be known until the end of the year whether others would "vote with their feet". The second tranche was a long way off. On the LEC side, there were some signs of increased militancy.
26. The Chairman asked what support was likely to be forthcoming from the FCO on the matter of passports, as it was to be hoped that some of the inequalities of the first tranche would be put right on the second, as no doubt an exodus by LEP could have a dramatic effect on the Garrison as a whole. Mr Paul recognised that the quotas for the first tranche had been miscalculated. CBF responded that HQ BFHK was trying to structure the second tranche with HKG.
रा
Sec (O) (C)
CBF HK
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UK EYES A SECRET
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