6.泉
seemed reasonable for HMG to meet the
costs."
The Ministry of Defence'sclaim for
reimbursement is based on the fact that
in 1968, similar works were carried out
by the Military on other border positions
Exercise "Spring Clean"). In this case
the Hong Kong Government accepted
liability for meeting the costs involved
and reimbursed the Ministry of
action Defence accordingly. This decision was
taken in accordance with a policy
decision by the Hong Kong Government in
accepted
March 1968 that it remained responsibility
for the maintenance of all buildings
required for operational reasons in the
border area whether these be occupied by
the Army or the Police.
The
Ministry
of Defence accordingly maintain that
having accepted liability for the works
involved in "Spring Clean", the Hong Kong
Government should likewise accept respons
bility for the works carried out under
"Highland Bonnet". They similarly
argue that after they had been called upon
in 1967 to assist the Hong Kong Police
on the border it would not have been
feasible for them to have waited on the
off chance of a Hong Kong Government
announcement accepting financial
responsibility for the particular works
in question.
/The Hong Kong
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