TNAG-2674-FCO40-3871-Hong-Kong-garrison-withdrawal-plan-1993 — Page 178

081721Z

CONFIDENTIAL

UK EYES ALFA

FM FCO

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IMMEDIATE SEOUL

TELNO 008

OF 08144OZ JANUARY 93

CONFIDENTIAL

HKA 063/1

RECE

1- JAN 1993

INFO IMMEDIATE MODUK

DESK

X

PA

Aufuli RAC

MODUK FOR HOWARD SEC (0) (C) AND THOMPSON (HAAL)

G

MIPT: UK MILITARY COMMITMENTS IN KOREA

LINE TO TAKE WITH ROK

AS YOU WILL KNOW, WE HAVE PROVIDED MILITARY SUPPORT FOR OVER 40 YEARS, SINCE KOREAN WAR. HAVE KEPT SMALL HONOUR GUARD CONTINGENT UNDER UN COMMAND IN SEOUL EVER SINCE.

HAVE CONSISTENTLY SUPPORTED EFFORTS TO BRING ABOUT A PEACEFUL SOLUTION ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA. HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING RECENT PROGRESS IN DEVELOPMENT OF YOUR RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA AND CHINA. BELIEVE WILL LEAD TO GREATER PEACE AND STABILITY IN THE REGION.

- WILL BE AWARE OF BOTH OUR GRADUAL WITHDRAWAL OF THE UK GARRISON FROM MONG KONG, AND REDUCTIONS IN DEFENCE SPENDING. HAVING TO EXAMINE ALL COMMITMENTS CAREFULLY. HAVE CONCLUDED, AFTER LENGTHY CONSIDERATION, THAT WE CANNOT MAINTAIN THE UK CONTRIBUTION TO THE HONOUR GUARD, COMPRISING .

BEYOND

AT THE END OF

THE CURRENT CONTINGENT'S TOUR OF DUTY. AS A RESULT, THE COMMONWEALTH LIAISON MISSION, CONSISTING OF BE WITHDRAWN, SOME TWO MONTHS LATER.

WILL ALSO

UK CONTINUES TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF UNCMAC. WITHDRAWAL OF HONOUR GUARD WILL NOT AFFECT UK'S POSITION ON THE MILITARY ARMISTICE COMMISSION (MAC). BRITISH DEFENCE ATTACHE AND AIR AND NAVAL ATTACHE UNAFFECTED.

- HAVE INFORMED GENERAL RISCASSI, CINCUNC KOREA, IN FIRST INSTANCE. BUT WISH TO TELL YOU TO ENSURE NO MISUNDERSTANDINGS. SPEAKING IN SIMILAR TERMS TO US.

IF RAISED

S

BELIEVE NORTH KOREA UNLIKELY TO BE ABLE TO MAKE MUCH PROPAGANDA FROM THIS: UK STILL COMMITTED TO AND HAS SEAT ON THE MAC. WILL KEEP DETAILS OF THE WITHDRAWAL LOW-KEY. MINISTERS WILL HAVE TO INFORM PARLIAMENT, BUT THIS WILL ALSO BE DONE IN A LOW-KEY WAY (WRITTEN ANSWER TO AN INSPIRED PQ).

HAVE SEEN POSITIVE SIGNS OF PROGRESS IN NORTH/SOUTH TALKS, ALTHOUGH REALISE STILL A LONG WAY TO GO. IAEA INSPECTIONS PROCEEDING SMOOTHLY ALTHOUGH CONCERNS REMAIN. HAVE MADE CLEAR TO NORTH KOREA OUR WISH TO SEE THESE INSPECTIONS FULLY COMPLETED, AND TO SEE BILATERAL NORTH-SOUTH INSPECTIONS PROCEED. NO WEAKENING IN OUR SUPPORT OF THE ROK.

DEFENSIVE

SHOULD NOT TRY TO LINK DEFENCE SALES WITH OUR WITHDRAWAL OF THE UK CONTRIBUTION TO THE HONOUR GUARD. NO CONNECTION. RECENT SUCCESSFUL ROYAL VISIT A SIGN OF THE IMPORTANCE WHICH UK ATTACHES TO ROK. NEED TO LOOK AHEAD.

CONFIDENTIAL

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