7.
SECRET
UK EYES A
manoeuvre force capable of relieving the police on the border or elsewhere.
b. Air. 6 Wessex aircraft to allow the airlift of one infantry company in 2 lifts within the Territory.
c. Sea. There is no essential defence need for the 3 RN patrol craft, but there will be strong Hong Kong Government pressure to retain them till the end, whatever option is considered for the land element of the Garrison.
The current Garrison strength is summarised at Annex A, but the basic difference, in terms of teeth arms, between that and the minimum force level described in paragraph 6 is that currently there are 3 infantry battalions in the Territory rather than the minimum requirement of 2. When we considered, during the 1991 Review, the case for maintaining the Garrison "stronger for longer" in the aftermath of the Tiananmen Square massacre, it was thought prudent to allow for a delay in the withdrawal of the surplus battalion until 1995: a final decision was to be made during the 1993 Review. It now appears that the military rationale for retaining the present force level until 1995 looks doubtful, and it is quite clear that earlier Hong Kong Government support for "stronger for longer" has evaporated, primarily on grounds of cost, thus removing the political imperative. The 1993 review should accordingly be based on the assumption that the next battalion withdrawal - which will actually be achieved by the amalgamation of 2GR and 6GR should take place in the second half of 1994: in effect the earliest feasible date if adequate planning time for the reduction is be allowed. Our understanding is that the Governor supports this middle route
SUPPORT UNITS
8.
A decision to withdraw a battalion in 1994 will have an impact on the rate of rundown of the those units in support of the infantry. The detail of this will be addressed during the Review itself.
ENDING OF ACCOMPANIED SERVICE
9. Hong Kong is currently an accompanied station which has consequences for its overall size. It would not be possible, given current ETP overstretch, to move soon to unaccompanied service. However, it will be necessary to cease accompanied service some 8- 11 months before final withdrawal in order to allow an orderly withdrawal and early closure of non-essential support units such as schools and secondary medical facilities. This should take account of the school year: accompanied service for UK servicemen should cease in August 1996 and in November 1996 for Gurkhas.
THE LAST 6 MONTHS
10. We will need to give careful consideration to the handling of the last 6 months of the Garrison from December 1996 to June 1997, in particular when the Garrison is to be reduced below the minimum military viable size. A number of factors will need to be taken
COSSEC/S/2.004
3
UK EYES A
SECRET
Page 120Page 121
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.