SECRET
to let us have a report on press and public reaction-
2
to the matter. This he has now sent is in his
telegram no 762 he uprien that "the whole sulyest
мрител
has no
3 The Governor has always stressed the importance
9
feared it
so far as public opinion in Hong Kong is concerned,
of the right presentational approach to this question; and
However, I think that the Financial Secretary, Hong
Kom rather overdid this aspect when introducing the
resolution into the Legislative Council. He there
stated that Her Majesty's Government had initially
asked for a contribution of £60 million over the five-
year period of the agreement but that Hong Kong
spear
opposition to this request, spearheaded by the
Governor, had succeeded in reducing the demand to
£1million.
حامد
the
Hie Good. Beb one can understand he desire of the Governor
demonchiate
(and his advisers to make it clear to the public at
large that they had done their best on Hong Kong's
underdrandable.
im
behalf in the negotiations with Her Majesty's
Government.
tAt no time during our negotiations
The
Bat
dra
with the Hong Kong Government we present the
with a demand for defence contribution amounting
to as much se £60 million over 5 years
Could..
ith Gove ни
С
•
Financial
Reuter's re
R
tary's statement gave rise
Hong Kong with resulting
enquiries (here from the BBC and Reuters These
Ang denguin
quiries/placed us in a somewhat difficult position.
and in replying to them we accordingly confined our
по
(although a sum
this onder wes
mentioned
course of the
Gate discuss.
it
the Gren
4. We han had
selves to saying that this waspal Jagen for report on
Velegne
to
No. 742.
to which we could not comment without referchel to Hong
we
KOTE We informed the Governor accordingly,
B
the
2. SECRET
thav
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
12
B