Hongkong Standard
635, King's Road, North Point, Hongkong Telephone 616292-8
Member Audit Bureau of Circulations.
Page 8 Wednesday, December 4, 1968
More Gurkhas or more hospitals
BRITAIN'S Defence Minister Gerry Reynolds
in the House of Commons that more Gurkha troops will be stationed in Hong- kong by 1971. Nothing wrong about this: we like the charming little men from Nepal.
But when Britain expects Hongkong to foot the bill for the increase of Gurkha troops in the Colony, then it makes quite a different kettle of fish.
Eighty million dollars a year to maintain the British Army in Hongkong is a drain on the Hongkong economy. Six thousand Gurkhas stationed in the Colony will hurt Hongkong even more, financially.
The millions of dollars required to maintain the extra Gurkhas is money that is sorely needed to give the people a better life. As an Urban Councillor puts it: the Gurkhas are wonderful soldiers, but it would be more wonderful to have more hospitals.
As a British Colony, the security of Hong- kong is the responsibility of the British Govern- ment. The people can help, but there should be a limit to the help Hongkong can give