CYPHER CAT A
FROM HONG KONG 131010Z
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TO ROUTINE F.C.0. TELEGRAM NUMBER 23 OF 13 JANUARY 1971
PERSONAL FOR MONSON
MY TELEGRAM NUMBER 7.
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3)
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AT THE REGULAR MONTHLY INFORMAL MEETING
WITH UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS
OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ON 12TH JANUARY, AFTER THE FORMAL MEETING, I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO RAISE THE QUESTION OF THE DEFENCE CONTRIBUTION IN GENERAL TERMS IN AN ENDEAVOUR TO SEE IF I COULD
GET ANY USEFUL PRELIMINARY REACTIONS.
2. UNQUESTIONABLY TO GET ANY CONSIDERABLE INCREASE IN THE PRESENT
CONTRIBUTION ACCEPTED IS NOT GOING TO BE EASY, AND I AM AFRAID
CHINESE MEMBERS DID REVERT TO, AND. SUGGEST RAISING AGAIN WITH YOU THE PRINCIPLE THAT THE METROPOLITAN WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEFENCE
OF ITS COLONIES. 1 DID MY BEST TO IMPRESS ON THEM THAT FURTHER ·
ARGUMENT ON PRINCIPLE WAS NOT LIKELY TO BE PRODUCTIVE: BUT WHATEVER
AGREEMENT WE REACH BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, THEY ARE LIKELY TO BE HOSTILE
IN PUBLIC, BASING THEIR CASE ON THIS PRINCIPLE.
3. I DID HOWEVER SENSE A CERTAIN DEGREE OF ACCEPTANCE (PERHAPS
FROM THE NON-CHINESE MEMBERS IN PARTICULAR ) FOR THE GENERAL
PROPOSITION THAT WE SHOULD BASE OUR OFFER ON THE LOCAL EXPENDITURE
WHICH ACCRUES TO THE HONG KONG ECONOMY.
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