§ 16. Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence when the Hong Kong garrison will be phased out.
§ Mr. William RodgersWe have no plans to phase out the Hong Kong garrison.
§ Mr. HooleySince there is no air cover, no air defence and no naval support for the garrison, what is the point of maintaining it, since its only option if hostilities should break out will be either to commit suicide or to surrender?
§ Mr. RodgersMy hon. Friend underestimates the subtleties of international relations. The fact is that no one except, perhaps, my hon. Friend is anxious to upset the present status quo in Hong Kong—certainly not the main partners in it. Were we to act in accordance with my hon. Friend's proposal, we would do just that.
§ Mr. BoscawenIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that we have the greatest possible obligation to ensure that the 4½ million people living in Hong Kong do so in peace and freedom, and that only this country can do it? Does he agree that we get the greatest possible value for money in deploying in full, in Hong Kong, the Gurkha Brigade, which is at present performing this rôle?
§ Mr. RodgersWithout endorsing every dot and comma, I broadly agree with what the hon. Gentleman said. He will notice that although we intend to maintain the garrison we shall do so at substantially less cost to this country under the new agreement negotiated and signed in December.