བསམས
I
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than has been assumed in the 1971 Long Term Costings over the four-year period 1972/73 to 1975/76. I am at present considering how far the defence programme can be cut to reduce its cost to the level of the published targets set for the years 1972/73 to 1974/75. It is clear that the cuts which would be required would have serious consequences. In this situation, if we had to meet from within the targets any shortfall in the Hong Kong defence contribution below the level of £8.5m. a year, I would have to press for a consequential adjustment to the Defence Budget targets.
4. I am sending copies of this minute to the other members of the Defence and Oversea Policy Committee and to Sir Burke Trend.
9th July 1971
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