§ Mr. Mike Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will give further details of his proposed 15 per cent. reduction in the Hong Kong British garrison and, in particular, which units will be affected; what the cost savings will be; what proportion of the garrison's costs will now be met by the Hong Kong authorities; and what this amounts to in cash terms.
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§ Mr. Robert C. BrownThe reductions announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 14th April—[Vol. 890, c. 13.]—were agreed in the context of the current cost-sharing agreement and do not affect its financial arrangements. The size of the future Hong Kong garrison is the subject of discussions with the Hong Kong Government in which we are seeking a larger Hong Kong contribution when the present cost-sharing agreement runs out in 1976. These discussions will, of course, take account of the economies made in the meantime but I cannot comment on what their outcome may be.