TNAG-2677-FCO40-3874-Hong-Kong-garrison-withdrawal-plan-1993 — Page 97

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CONFIDENTIAL

THE POLICY FOR THE RUNDOWN OF THE HONG KONG GARRISON TO 1997

References:

A.

B.

C.

COSSEC 1042/756 dated Feb 93 (The Rundown Of The Hong Kong Garrison To 1997).

D/Sec(0)(C) 6/7 dated 7 Jun 93, covering OPD (K) (93) dated 22 Jun 93 (Hong Kong: The Future Of The British Garrison). JIC (92) (N)50 dated 18 Dec 92 (Hong Kong: Prospects For Stability Up To 1997).

INTRODUCTION

1.

In 1987, the Chiefs of Staff (COS) directed1 that the Outline Withdrawal Plan and rundown of the Hong Kong Garrison be reviewed every two years up to the point of departure from Hong Kong in 1997. The 1993 Review was staffed to two-star level earlier this year, based on a MOD submission (Reference A) endorsed by the COS and SofS.

2.

However, a re-assessment of the operational tasks of the Garrison, linked to a shortfall in the HKG's funding due to the MOD under the Defence Costs Agreement (DCA), led to a formal re- consideration by the Ministerial Committee on Defence and Overseas Policy (Dependent Territories) (OPD (K)) (Reference B) in Jun 93 of the overall policy for the rundown of the Hong Kong Garrison. The policy direction provided by the OPD (K) paper overtook much of the 1993 MOD Review paper.

3. A MOD policy paper is required, however, to take forward the policy guidelines and direction provided by References A and B, and to provide a policy base for the detailed planning by HQ British Forces Hong Kong (HQBF HK) of the rundown and final withdrawal of the Garrison. The political perspective against which this paper is set is included at Reference A, and the Joint Intelligence Committee assessment of the security situation in Hong Kong in the period to 1997 is at Reference C.

AIM

4. The aim of this paper is to develop the policy for the rundown and withdrawal of the Hong Kong Garrison in accordance with the guidelines provided by the OPD (K).

5.

THE OPD(K)

The OPD (K) paper endorsed by Ministers directed that:

1

CDS 7/87, dated 23 Feb 87.

1

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CONFIDENTIAL

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