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T HONG KONG GARRISON: A FASTER RUN DOWN PROGRAMME
Introduction
1.
The Chiefs of Staff have recently approved a policy paper
which examined broad options for the future of the Hong Kong
garrison between now and full withdrawal in mid 1997. The paper concluded that if the garrison were to have a viable military role in contributing to the internal security of Hong Kong, it
needed to be centred on a minimum of two infantry battalions: one
available to relieve the Hong Kong police on border duties; and
a second to guard key points, including the reinforcement airhead. Because of pressures on the emergency tour plot, which
are likely to increase with any further major UK deployment to
Bosnia, and the growing reluctance of the Hong Kong Government
to finance a large garrison through the DCA, Minister (AF) has asked that an alternative plan, which would reduce the size of the garrison to one battalion as soon as possible, be examined.
2.
Minister (AF) 's proposal would involve advancing the planned
amalgamation of 2 GR and 6 GR, currently scheduled to be complete
by October 1994, to the earliest possible date. Once that was complete and the new amalgamated Gurkha battalion was fully operational, the resident UK battalion, currently 1 BW, would return to the UK becoming available for ETP or other duties as required. Towards the end of 1996, the single Gurkha battalion in Hong Kong would be withdrawn to be replaced by a UK battalion on an unaccompanied roulement tour to cover the period between
then and the handover to China on 30 June 1997.
Military and political implications
3.
In Hong Kong, reducing the size of the land element of the garrison to one battalion, would mean that effectively we would retain a presence there which would be primarily symbolic and
would be capable of little more than guarding itself and assisting in securing reception points for reinforcement. Even this limited capability could be in doubt if the battalions's
fourth rifle company were re-deployed, as planned, to take on the
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