St.S.
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
97499
Registry No.
Top Secret. Secret.
Confidential.
Restricted. Unclassified.
DRAFT
To:-
Type 1 +
From
Telephone No. & Ext.
Department
of this letter is to enquire whether you would
agree with our view that a case exists for
H.M.G. to share the se costs with the HongKong
The Ministry of Defence have told
Government.
us that they do not consider that any part
of the costs would be a correct charge on their
votes since the charges arose in connexion with
the preservation of internal security in
KongKong. Our view is that although this
argument is right so far as it goes, the
fact is that the fence is primarily required
to meet a potential external threat posed by
Is this mean or
and and de
conditions in China. As such we feel that there
is a good case for part of the costs involved
to be met by H.M.G. and we suggest that an
equitable arrangement would be for the latter
to bear the costs of the materials required
for the fence, leaving HongKong to find the
balance of funds needed to cover all other
costs arising in connection with the project.
We should be grateful for your views on this
proposal.
I am copying this letter to Cass at the
Ministry of Defence.