TNAG-2240-FCO40-3219-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Royal-Navy-presence-1991 — Page 225

GRS 274

SECRET

UKS ALFA

FM

TO

NG KONG

MEDIATE FCO

TELNO 1931

OF 141406Z JUNE 91

AND TO PRIORITY PEKING

SECRET fa Pa

not on

HK8 063/1, this dready

INFO PRIORITY BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

on "fice?

If so pl destions у пок, проводниц

ам

file

Gf.

YRTELNO 1123: HONG KONG GARRISON: WITHDRAWAL OF THE FIRST BATTALION

1. CBF HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH MOD ABOUT THE DATE OF WITHDRAWAL QUOTED 1N PARA. 1 OF TUR. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE DATE SHOULD READ SEPTEMBER 1992, AND THAT MOD WILL BE IN TOUCH WITH YOU TO CONFIRM THIS. SUBJECT TO THIS CLARIFICATION, WE INTEND TO INFORM THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ON 2 JULY.

2. WE HAVE DISCUSSED WITH UKREP JLG HONG KONG THE RIGHT TIMING OF APPROACHING THE CHINESE. FOR THE REASONS GIVEN IN HIS TELNO 93, HE FEELS THAT 1-T 1S 1MPORTANT TO GIVE THEM AS MUCH NOTICE AS POSSIBLE: THEIR REACTION IS LIKELY TO BE UNFAVOURABLE IF THEY FEEL THEY ARE BEING BOUNCED. 1 AGREE. HE PROPOSES THEREFORE TO 1-NFORM THEM ON 5 JULY. HE BELIEVES THAT THEY ARE UNLIKELY TO LEAK THE 1-NFORMATION.

FUTURE OF THE BRIGADE OF GURKHAS

}

3. IN PASSING, SHOULD PLACE ON RECORD THAT, ALTHOUGH CBF HAS DONE HIS BEST TO KEEP ME IN THE PICTURE ON MOD THINKING AND T HAVE MADE MY VIEWS KNOWN TO YOU AND TO THE (FORMER) PRIME MINISTER, HAVE NEVER ACTUALLY BE CONSULTED, EITHER BY THE MOD OF THE FCO, ON THE OPTIONS FOR THE FUTURE OF THE BRIGADE OF GURKHAS. THE FIRST DIRECT COMMUNICATION 1 HAVE HAD ON THE SUBJECT WAS YRTELNO 141 TO KATHMANDU. EVEN THIS WAS ONLY SENT TO ME FOR INFORMATION. NEVERTHELESS, TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONFIRM THAT 1 WAS CONTENT WITH OPTION (HH.

WILSON

ΜΑΙΝ

LIMITED

HD/HKD HYSAD HD/NPDD.

HEAD FED

HD/NEWS DEPARTMENT

PLANNERS

HPUSD

HD/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

117

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