TNAG-2675-FCO40-3872-Hong-Kong-garrison-withdrawal-plan-1993 — Page 179

1

CODE 18-77

Mr Marshall

HKD

SECRET

HKA_063/1

2. MAR 1993

DESK X

Reference.

CISTRY

ра

Adion Take.

34

THE FUTURE OF THE HONG KONG GARRISON

Thank you for copying us a minute from MOD on possible changes to Hong Kong's defence arrangements.

1.

2.

Our interest in the MOD assessment is the effect of the proposals on the British garrison in Brunei. If the MOD wishes to bring forward the amalgamation of 2 Gurkha Rifles and 6 Gurkha rifles, it means 6GR finishing its Brunei tour earlier than scheduled (currently July 1994).

3.

If the Minister (AF)'s proposals were adopted, we would need to ensure that a full battalion could be found to replace 6GR in Brunei, and that there would be no gap in our presence on the ground. The Sultan has already raised the issue of whether we intend to extend our garrison agreement beyond 1998 with the Prime Minister. We should avoid giving any signal, however misinterpreted, that we were taking early decisions on matters which affect the long-term deployment of the Brunei garrison. It is therefore important that, if we have to explain the change of deployment in Hong Kong to the Bruneians, we can present it as "administrative reorganisation" within the Gurkha brigade.

Ton elhöll Ты

J A Elliott

South East Asian Department

WH MZ 45

25 March 1993

270 2446

CC: Ms Kazer, RAD

Mr Sindall, BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (with ref)

SECRET

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