NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
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written representations on the subject to the
Secretary of State. The arguments put forward in
those representations centred mainly round the
following points:
(1)
(2)
(3)
The Unofficial Members had never accepted
Her Majesty's Government's contention that
Colonial Governments were entirely
responsible for all aspects of their own
As the mother country
internal security.
Britain had an obligation to defend a
Colonial territory against both external
aggression and internal subversion.
In the
particular circumstances of Hong Kong these
were
two elements are complimentary and both
required the presence of British troops.
The defence contribution could not be
considered in isolation from the vast
expenditure facing Hong Kong in the
spheres of housing, education and other
social services, airport development, public
transport and other major public works.
The Unofficial Members maintained that in
the course of the 1966 negotiations over the
defence contribution, they were given to
understand by the responsible United Kingdom
Ministers that every endeavour would be made,
in consideration of an increased defence
contribution, to assist the Colony
financially in some other way; in this
connection they particularly mentioned the
•
extension of the Kai Tak airport.
NB Despite the fullest search and enquiries
no record can be traced of any Such
undertaking.)
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