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either. by using the official majority The Colony's Legislative Council,
(c)
To adopt the Governor's suggestion
(paragraph 6 above).
(a) To accept the offer of the Unofficial
Members of the Governor's Executive Council
(paragraph 5 above).
contribution/by
(a) would undoubtedly involve the imposition of such a contribution/by the exercise of Her Majesty's reserve
Either of thes powers under the Hong Kong constitution with all that courses could have serious consequmar. that would involve.
a semitas Curse of
(b) also would probably involve the exercise of those
acha.
powers.
(a) is not, in my view, an acceptable solution since
Hong Kong can afford and should make a higher
contribution than £7 million per annum.
8.
It is likely that even a contribution on the basis
option (c) suggested by the Governor (para 6-above) would meet
· with considerable opposition in Hong Kong; and even if
the Governor's unofficial advisers on the Executive
Council could be persuaded to support it, it might well
even
encounter stiffer opposition from the Unofficial
Members of the Legislative Council (whose subsequent
agreement would be required before the funds could be
voted in the Colony's budget). But the Governor
considers that his suggestions offer some hope of
reaching a settlement and I accordingly recommend the (an additional condition providing for adoption of (c) above coupled with provision for a
review after five years if the recurrent costs of the
500
by them garrison had increased by more than over April 1971
八
costs.
However, my Cabinet colleagues may wish ta
consider the other possibilities open to us.
A
3.
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