SECRE
As regards (c), I mentioned in the same letter that the Ministry of Defence do not consider that they should be expected
We take this to mean to find the funds required under this head. that they consider that the whole of the costs involved should be borne by the Hong Kong Government and this does not altogether agree with the comment in the penultimate paragraph of your letter of 15 September. However, the amount involved is small and we propose to suggest to them that the Hong Kong contribution to it should be taken into account in the negotiations over the new defence contribution agreement.
Visits of RAF combat aircraft
1970-1971
With my letter of 6 November to Norman-Walker I enclosed a copy of a note setting out proposals prepared by the Air Force Department for RAF training flight visits to Hong Kong during the We have now heard period from March 1970 until the end of 1971. that the Chiefs of Staff and the Defence Secretary have approved these proposals and that the Ministry of Defence are prepared to
The meet the small additional costs that they will involve. proposals were approved in the form of the enclosure to this letter and they do not differ substantially from those already made known to you.
We are taking your letter to me TSX 1/57 of 13 January as authority to inform the Ministry of Defence of your acceptance of their proposals for RAF training flight visits both during the period up to the end of 1971 and thereafter. In so doing we are making the following points:
(a)
that you are accepting the proposals because you see no practicable alternative means of obtaining fighter cover for the Colony after March 1970;
(b) that the extent of the fighter cover envisaged in the
proposals is the barest minimum required and we very much hope that in the event it will be rather better than can, at this stage, be forecast, especially during the period up to the end of 1971;
(c) that should experience of the scheme show that it is
inadequate for its purpose, we reserve the right to raise ""ab initio" the whole question of fighter cover for the Colony;
(a)
that you have put forward the idea of a trial visit by a Phantom aircraft to confirm that the runway is adequate.
Once we have informed the Ministry of Defence of your (and our) acceptance of their proposals, they will authorise the Commander-in-Chief, Far East, and the Commander, British Forces, Hong Kong, in conjunction with the Air Force Department, to complete the necessary detailed examination and planning.
Yours
Bunny
(W. S. Carter)
SECRET
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