asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the purpose of the units of the armed forces stationed in Hong Kong.

To help preserve its territorial integrity.

Does not my hon. Friend agree that it is absurd to abandon all the link bases from South Africa across the Indian Ocean—[HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear."]—and to leave this garrison out on a limb when the limb does not exist? Is it not a waste of professional manpower and in military terms stupid when there is no air cover and no adequate naval support is possible?

No, Sir. That is not the view I take.