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Sir L Monson
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Mr Logan
HONG KONG DEFENCE CONTRIBUTION
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Supatice.
1. On 23 March the Secretary of State sent a message to the
Unofficial Members of the Executive Council regretting that HMG
felt unable to alter the views conveyed to them earlier by the
Governor.
2.
In reply, the Unofficial Members made two points:-
(a) they considered that the reply of the Secretary of
State did not satisfactorily answer many of the
points made in their memorandum;
(b) the Secretary of State's assertion that £8.5 million
was the minimum contribution acceptable to HMG, without
any indication of acceptance of the principles set
out in their memorandum, left them in no position to
recommend the making of any voluntary offer in
accordance with those principles.
3. The following are the principles referred to by the
Unofficial Members:-
They are unable to accept the general principle that
the Colony should pay for any specific proportion of the
costs of keeping troops in Hong Kong.
Nevertheless they agree that a token contribution
should be made provided the Colony is able to afford it.
The payment should be offered voluntarily without reference
to any specific rules or formulae; but the amount must
have due regard to Hong Kong's other financial commitments.
There can be no question of the defence contribution taking
automatic priority over such other commitments.
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