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preparing for the negotiations over the post-1971 defence
contribution agreement, officials of the Hong Kong Government
should work out a figure for Hong Kong's contribution, both in
relation to the size of the garrison and to what would be
politically acceptable in Hong Kong. This would then be put
to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and if the latter
(after consultation with the other Departments concerned)
considered the figure to be a reasonable one, the Governor
could put it to his Executive Council at the appropriate time.
If the latter agreed the figure, it could then be put forward
as an offer by the Hong Kong Government, thus avoiding any
appearance of its being a demand by Her Majesty's Government.
Mr. Healey agreed that such an approach secmed sensible and
this in fact, is the course which is being adopted.
We now
await the Governor's initial proposals, which are in turn
dependent on figures to be supplied by the M.O.D.
pursuing this.
We are
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