(134392) Dd. 737115 750M 4/70 Hw.
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
Take in ship as para 2.
,C.B.
Defence.
Type 1 +
From
Sir D. Monson- Mr Wilford Telephone No & Ext.
Department
to Cyprus
replying, in Latie Monson's absence to
л
Thank you for your letter DUS (F) 153/4 of 15
September on the subject of the Hong Kong defence
Goldsmith's lett 17 Septembh of
contribution.
21 September.
Whil
have also scan
Scalling's tatter of
While we do not query the MOD record of
ber]
our discussions with you on 7 September We have
to bear in mind that in the event the size of
Hong Kong's contribution will be determined by
what the Governor can persuade his unofficial
advisers to accept as a reasonable charge against
rementering Hong Kong funds. It is worth bearing in mind here
that after the then Secretary of State for the
Colonies visited Hong Kong in 1966 for the express
purpose of negotiating the present contribution
he went on record as saying that " there was a
very real possibility at one stage that unofficial
members would feel obliged to tender their
resignations.
But fortunately and under the strong
leadership of the Governor the majority of the
unofficials accepted the need for an increase and
evolved the offer to contribute £5 million a year
for a period of 4 years".
4.
As a result of a continuing clash of interests
between HMG and the Hong Kong Government, mainly
in the economic and commercial spheres, our relations
with the Colony are if anything worse today than
they were in 1966. The Governor will have at least
/as.....