TNAG-2739-FCO40-3953-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development--through-tra-1993 — Page 69

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SETTING UP OF A WORKING GROUP ON THE STATIONING OF TROOPS IN HK AFTER 1997 WAS OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED BY THE POLITBURO ON MAY 22. THE GROUP WOULD BE LED BY THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF THE PLA GENERAL STAFF XU HUIZI (ALSO A MEMBER OF THE PWC). THE WORKING GROUP WAS BASED AT THE GUANGZHOU MILITARY REGION AND CONSISTED OF SOME 60 MEMBERS. MEMBERS OF THE FUTURE HK GARRISON WOULD BE DRAWN FROM VARIOUS MILITARY REGIONS.

30. THE PAPERS QUOTED XU HUIZI (17.7) AS SAYING THE NUMBER OF PLA TROOPS TO BE DEPLOYED IN HK AFTER 1997 WAS DETERMINED BY DEFENCE NEEDS AT THAT TIME. XU DENIED AN EARLIER REPORT IN A LOCAL MAGAZINE THE NUMBER WOULD BE 10,000. MANY PAPERS NOTED XU'S REMARKS THAT TROOPS IN THE GUANGZHOU MILITARY REGION HAD ALREADY STARTED LEARNING CANTONESE AND ENGLISH AND STUDYING HK LAWS IN PREPARATION FOR THEIR DEPLOYMENT TO HK.

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PUSD

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LEGAL ADVISERS//MS BARRETT LEGAL ADVISERS//MISS BROOKS LEGAL ADVISERS//MR GILES NEWS D

NTCD

PLANNERS

RAD

PS

PS/MR GOODLAD

SIR J COLES MR HUM

ADDITIONAL

CAOFF//SIR R BRAITHWAITE (DIO)

CAOFF//MISS NEVILLE-JONES

CAOFF //MR SIBSON

PS NO 10.

HKGO LONDON

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