MINISTER OF STATE FOR THE ARMED FORCES
LOOSE MINUTE
D/MIN(AF)/4/5/5
12 March 1993
SISERET UK EYES A
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19 MAR 1993
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DO(FEW)
Hd Sec(0) (C)
Press Secretary
GF (POL) 1
THE FUTURE of the Hong KONG GARRISON
Reference.
A.
19
D/Sec(0)(C) 6/7 dated 9 March 1993.
Minister (AF) has seen the policy paper approved by the Chiefs of Staff on the proposals for the run-down of the Hong Kong Garrison which was forwarded to you under cover of Reference A. He is not persuaded that the course of action proposed by the paper represents the best way forward.
2.
The Minister has noted the increased sensitivity of the Hong Kong Government over the size of the garrison and its associated costs. He considers that a proposal to maintain a viable military option would do little to ameliorate this. Furthermore, he is concerned that, at a time when ever increasing calls are likely to be made on the Army for participation in other operations, the maintenance of a large garrison in Hong Kong does not represent efficient use of our finite resources. Political arguments to retain a "strong" military presence notwithstanding, now that the main internal security tasks have been handed over to the Royal Hong Kong Police, there would appear to be insufficient useful employment to justify the retention of two battalions in Hong Kong.
SESECRET UK EYES A
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