TNAG-2675-FCO40-3872-Hong-Kong-garrison-withdrawal-plan-1993 — Page 154

CONFIDENTIAL

FM BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 071

OF 06010OZ APRIL 93

AND TO IMMEDIATE MODUK

CONFIDENTIAL

HKA 063/

05 APR 1993

DESK OF

AND TO PRIORITY ASEAN POSTS, ACTOR, WASHINGTON

063/1.

но

137022

MDHIAN 6169

Blon Tal

thdrawal.

.LS1

SIC ACA/A29/EAD/ZMC

MOD FOR PS/S OF S, AUS (C) AND PS/HDES

UK/BRUNEI DEFENCE RELATIONS

SUMMARY

1.

SULTAN EXPLICITLY ASKS FOR BRITISH GARRISON TO STAY ON BEYOND

1998.

DETAIL

2.

WHEN I TOOK CBF HONG KONG, MAJOR GENERAL FOLEY, TO CALL ON THE SULTAN ON 5 APRIL THE CONVERSATION QUICKLY TURNED TO THE FUTURE OF THE BRUNEI GARRISON. GENERAL FOLEY GAVE THE SULTAN OUR STANDARD REASSURANCES THAT THE RUN-DOWN OF THE HONG KONG GARRISON WOULD NOT AFFECT OUR COMMITMENT TO MAINTAIN THE BRUNEI GARRISON UNTIL 1998. THE SULTAN SAID HE WAS GRATEFUL TO HAVE THAT CONFIRMATION AND THEN SAID THAT HE ALSO WANTED THE BRITISH GARRISON IN BRUNEI TO STAY ON BEYOND 1998. HE VERY MUCH VALUED THE PRESENCE OF THE BRITISH GARRISON IN BRUNEI. HE KNEW THAT THE GURKHAS AND BRITISH MILITARY LIKED BEING IN BRUNEI: SO THERE SEEMED EVERY REASON FOR THE GARRISON TO STAY ON. I REMINDED THE SULTAN THAT THE DEFENCE SECRETARY WOULD BE IN BRUNEI IN MID-MAY. THAT VISIT WOULD GIVE AN

THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A FURTHER EXCHANGE OF VIEWS ON THIS SUBJECT. SULTAN SAID THAT HE WAS DEFINITELY PLANNING TO BE IN LONDON AT SOME POINT IN MAY. BUT HE HAD NOT YET DECIDED ON HIS EXACT DATES AND HOPED THAT THE TIMINGS WOULD WORK OUT SO THAT HE COULD SEE MR RIFKIND.

3.

THE SULTAN ALSO RECALLED WITH PLEASURE HIS LAST VISIT TO THE

1

PAGE CONFIDENTIAL