SECRET
if the Governor were unable to secure LEGCO support for meeting
the Hong Kong government's share of a larger garrison's costs. Such a financial penalty could also be accompanied by a constitutional row over what would be a public breach of a formal
agreement reached between HMG and the Hong Kong government.
Conclusion and recommendation
and financial
13. There are military and political risks
penalties associated with a more rapid run down of the Hong Kong
garrison and the loss of its internal security role. But we believe these can be managed and are outweighed by the need to
avoid a damaging dispute between the Governor and LEGCO over defence costs at a time when the Hong Kong government faces major political challenges; and the additional flexibility to meet other military commitments that would result from redeploying
forces from Hong Kong. We therefore invite colleagues to:
agree that the size of the Hong Kong garrison should be reduced to one centred around a single infantry battalion
by September 1994, in accordance with the broad timetable
set out in paragraph 7.
b. note that this will lead to substantial savings in the support area which will need to be quantified in detail.
c. agree that further work should be carried out on:
(1) reviewing re-inforcement plans for the garrison in
the light of the loss of its internal security role.
(2) public handling both with the Chinese, in Hong
Kong and in the UK.
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