HC Deb 20 March 1979 vol 964 cc1294-5
12. Mr. Hooley

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the approximate cost of the new defence headquarters in Hong Kong; and how much of this cost falls on the British taxpayer.

14. Mr. Gwilym Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what study he has made of the role and effectiveness of the £7 million forces' headquarters recently opened in Hong Kong; what figures are available for the total defence expenditure on buildings of this type; and if he will make a statement.

Dr. Gilbert

As part of the 1975 Hong Kong defence costs agreement, the Ministry of Defence agreed to release the Victoria barracks site to the Hong Kong Government on the understanding that they would provide a new headquarters at no cost to Her Majesty's Government. The cost of the building, which also includes living and recreational facilities, was $HK82 million. There are no plans for similar buildings for the forces elsewhere.

Mr. Hooley

What is the point of maintaining a military garrison in Hong Kong anyway? The place is indefensible against a land attack, and, in the light of the policies of the present Chinese Government, there appears to be no reason to fear such an attack.

Dr. Gilbert

In addition to the roles implied for the garrison by my hon. Friend, it also has to deal with illegal immigrants and internal security. The garrison performs extremely valuable roles in those respects.

Mr. Gwilym Roberts

Does my right hon. Friend agree that when our forces are desperately short of money for men and weaponry it is well-nigh criminal to waste it on prestige blocks of this type, which are presumably full of cocktail cabinets and gold-plated toilets for the officers?

Dr. Gilbert

My hon. Friend cannot have heard my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Heeley (Mr. Hooley). The block was provided at no cost to the British Government. The full cost falls upon the Hong Kong Government's budget.

Sir Anthony Royle

Will the Minister explain to his hon. Friend that Hong Kong is a British colony and that therefore we have responsibility for the internal security and defence of that territory?

Dr. Gilbert

I thought that I had already made that clear.