which
"The only no: mal addition to is amount right arise if we
asked the Services to vacate land wi..ch they st.11 needed: in which
case we might have to replace the ldings, et on this land.
But this is for us to decide, and the buildings would be ours - es,
indeed, will be any buildings erected from mone; under the new
defence contribution proposals.
"That is all I have to tell you tonight. I am sorry if what I
have said sounds complicated, but I have tried o give you the whole
story as simply as I can. We have looked at th: s problem from every
angle, very closely indeed, with Hong Kong's tr a best interests at
heart; end we have largely been able to agree o a compromise soluti
that has on the one hand now proved acceptable › the United Kingdom in
providing them with some much needed relief for the pound, and on th th
other is not too unfair to Hong Kong: continuing, as it does, our palents
at about the present level. What we have lost the expectation of cone
rossible and I say possible deliberately reduction in these payments
over the next few years: but we cannot have everything entirely our own
way in this world. We shall reap some benefit at least from now knowing
where we stand, and from having achieved a solution to our main problems
problems which have plagued
over the Armed Services' land holdings
us for many years.'
11
T