§ 7. Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the purpose of the units of the armed forces stationed in Hong Kong.
§ The Minister of State for Defence (Mr. William Rodgers)To help preserve its territorial integrity.
§ Mr. HooleyDoes not my hon. Friend agree that it is absurd to abandon all the link bases from South Africa across the Indian Ocean—[HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear."]—and to leave this garrison out on a limb when the limb does not exist? Is it not a waste of professional manpower and in military terms stupid when there is no air cover and no adequate naval support is possible?
§ Mr. RodgersNo, Sir. That is not the view I take.