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DRAFT LETTER FROM SECRETARY OF STATE TO GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG
I was grateful for your response to my letter of 15 April
and the paper on the future of the Hong Kong garrison I sent
with it.
I recognise the particular political difficulties you face
with LEGCO over the question of defence costs and can understand
why you feel unable to enclose the basic concept of retaining a
garrison based around two infantry battalions. I am concerned
however that paragraph 2 of your letter appears to imply that we
would be able to carry out the task of replacing the police on
the border with only one battalion. As the paper I sent you
makes clear, if the garrison reduces to one battalion only, it
will only be capable, in the event of an internal security
crisis, of guarding the defence estate in Hong Kong and helping
secure an airhead for reinforcement. No in theatre military
resources would be available to relieve the police on the border
with China.
The next step here is for Ministers collectively to
consider the political, military and financial implications of a
rapid run down to a single battalion garrison. That work is
under way and as soon as we reach a conclusion, I shall write to
you again setting out how we plan to proceed. In the meantime,
if you have any further points you wish to feed into this
debate, please let me know.
A copy of this goes to Douglas Hurd.
SECRET
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