TNAG-2677-FCO40-3874-Hong-Kong-garrison-withdrawal-plan-1993 — Page 248

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Speaking note

page 1. para 3:

page 1. para 5:

page 2. para 1:

page 2, para 2:

page 2: para 3:

page 2. para 4:

First sentence: add "In 1987” at the beginning. Third sentence: replace "initial" with "then" and "until 1997" with "as 1997 approached".

Replace with: "Our planning has taken account of a number of factors including the need to maintain an adequate garrison in Hong Kong, our experience following the very successful

| handover of border patrol and other duties from the garrison to

the police and other local forces, the worldwide commitments of | the British Army, the continuing availability of a credible and

effective reinforcement capability and the views of the Chinese side."

(We want to avoid references to savings, which are unlikely to materialise until 1995-96 and have not yet been quantified.)

Replace first sentence of (i) with: "Towards the latter part of 1994, one of the three remaining battalions will be withdrawn and the other two will amalgamate."

Replace (ii) with: "A Royal Air Force and Royal Navy presence will remain in Hong Kong until 1997, although there will be some reduction in air strength."

Add a new (iii): "There will also be reductions in support units.”

Add a new sentence "We envisage that by 1995, the garrison will be 3,000 to 3,500 strong."

Replace "when the issue was last discussed" with "in 1987”.

Replace with: "Given the short time remaining until the transfer of sovereignty, we propose that representatives of the Chinese and British military authorities should meet to discuss the practical aspects of the transfer of defence responsibilties".

Replace "19 July” with “mid-July". (As we explained in our Telno 972; we would prefer to avoid giving a specific date so as not to create a deadline for a Chinese response.)

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