§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the size of the garrison in Hong Kong on 1st January 1975 and its approximate annual cost; and what will be the size and annual cost in 1976.
§ Mr. William RodgersOn 1st January 1975 the Hong Kong garrison comprised five infantry battalions, three of them Gurkha, an artillery regiment, an armoured reconnaissance squadron, an engineer squadron, a frigate and patrol craft, and a RAF helicopter squadron. At current prices it costs about £65 million a year. I announced on 6th November—[Vol. 899, c.270–1.]—that the garrison will be reduced in 1976 to four infantry battalions, three of them Gurkha, an engineer squadron, five naval patrol craft and a RAF helicopter squadron, whose total cost is £42½ million a year.