C0003256 G.F. 323
CONFIDENTIAL downgrades is
RESTRICTED-EMBARGOED
UNTIL
ON
4.30 3.00. P. M.
- 6 ОСТ 1971
SPEECH BY HON. P.C. WOO
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 6TH OCTOBER 1971
Your Excellency,
I rise on behalf of the Unofficial Members
to make clear our own position in regard to the
payment of the revised defence contribution of
£8 million a year for 5 years from 1st April 1971
onwards. The Unofficial Members have, of course,
been consulted previously on the amount to be paid
to Her Majesty's Government which has been offered
by Hong Kong as a voluntary contribution without
reference to any specific rules or formulae. The
Unofficials cannot accept that the Colony should pay
for any specific proportion of the costs of keeping
troops in Hong Kong. The amount which is now
to be paid is offered freely and has due regard to
Hong Kong's other financial commitments including
those for the expansion of housing, education and
other social services as well as the vast sums which
will be required for public works and public transport.
There can be no question of the defence contribution
taking automatic priority over these other
commitments. Furthermore, any contribution which is
voluntarily offered by Hong Kong must be subject to
reduction if there should be a seriously adverse
change in the Colony's economic position.
Defever station
/The Financial Secretary ....
CONFIDENTIAL