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been quoted for the unit.
But I
6.
I am sorry if this letter should sound somewhat rigid. am afraid that this is a necessary consequence of the view which we have always held here and which was specifically expressed by the Defence Secretary when this question was considered by the DOPC, that there is no military justification for our maintaining such a unit in Hong Kong. It follows, I am afraid, almost automatically that there is no justification for our incurring expenditure from Defence Votes either in running the unit or in maintaining something in being between the time when No 20 Squadron disbands and the time when the Hong Kong Government decide that they want the unit and are prepared to accept financial responsibility for it. I think that it would be wrong if you were to leave the Governor under the impression that there are any easy solutions, if he should still find it impossible to make financial provision for the unit before 1971.
7.
We shall clearly have to discuss this more fully after your return.
But it is not an issue which can be subject to prolonged debate. As you may have seen from Heskett's letter of 22nd May to Gaminara, we have now reached the point where administrative decisions must be taken and, in particular, arrangements made for the progressive reconditioning of those aircraft in No 20 Squadron which will be required for this purpose.
Yours sincanly
Rebut Haynes.
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