SECRET
dence between the Commonwealth Secretary and Defence Secretary
in which the Foreign Secretary has joined. The political argu- ments are summarised in paras 67 of the Speaking Notes above.
One aspect is covered in a Top Secret Annex to this brief.
22.
During his recent visit the Governor suggested to the Chiefs
of Staff that a small fighter unit of Hunters might be provided
at greatly reduced cost if they could be backed by personnel of
the Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force (which the Hong Kong Government
maintains from its budget) and maintenance could be provided through
the facilities of the Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Corporation
(a British concern). He had it in mind that the Hong Kong
contribute to
Government would assume responsibility for the operating costs
Miloh & Key to unsical personnel
while the aircraft would be provided by H.M.G.
Would
The Chiefs of Staff
agreed to look into this proposal and it is being examined by the
Air Force Department of the Ministry of Defence.
23. From the starting point of an interdepartmental ruling that
Civil votes should reimburse Defence votes for the extra-budgetary
costs of forces deployed for internal security purposes, the some-
what specious argument is advanced that this must tend to equate
units with the full budgetary cost of such visits where it can be shown
that, but for these responsibilities, there "could be decreases in
our long term force structure".
24. The maintenance of internal security in our dependent terri-
tories is one of H.M.G.'s responsibilities and our force structure
must provide for the commitment it entails. It does not therefore
seem open to argue that H.M.G. could dispense with such forces
unless there is at the same time a conscious decision to withdraw
from the commitment.
25.
-
Dependent territories are held responsible for meeting the
cost of maintaining their internal security to the extent that
they are able to do so. This has meant that so far as possible
they have raised and maintained local police and military forces
(with