§ Mr. Terry Walkerasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Service personnel from each of the three Armed Services are at present stationed in Hong Kong.
§ Dr. GilbertIncluding Gurkhas and locally enlisted personnel, the figures are:
201W
Navy … … … 550 Army … … … 7,800 Air Force … … … 280
§ Mr. Terry Walkerasked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cost over each of the past five years of retaining a military presence in Hong Kong.
§ Dr. GilbertI regret that information is not available in the exact form requested. The annual cost of the garrison in Hong Kong was estimated at £42.5 million at 1976 Survey prices. The Hong Kong Government's contribution was 50 per cent. in 1976–77 and will rise to 75 per cent. in 1978–79. The annual cost of the previous garrison—before the reductions announced in December 1975—was approximately £65 million at the same price level. The Hong Kong Government contributed about 20 per cent. under earlier cost sharing arrangements.