HORITY
EN CLAIR
5
RL Live REGISTRY No. 51
-7 OCT 1971
HKIL 10/9
TOP COFF
(HKD)
FM FCO 061845Z
UNCLASSIFIED
TO PRIORITY GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELNO 748 OF 6 OCTOBER.
164
164)
MY TELNO [747]
1. FOLLOWING IS EXTRACT:
DEFENCE CONTRIBUTION.
LAST
REF.
164
NEXT
REF.
BEGINS.
THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS REJECTED A BRITISH REQUEST TO SHOULDER NEARLY HALF OF THE COST OF MAINTAINING A BRITISH GARRISON
HERE, ESTIMATED AT POUNDS STERLING 140 MILLION OVER THE NEXT
5 YEARS, IT WAS ANNOUNCED TODAY.
INSTEAD HONG KONG AGREED TO PAY POUNDS STERLING 40 MILLION, FINANCIAL SECRETARY C P HADDON-CAVE TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
MR HADDON-CAVE SAID BRITAIN HAD ASKED FOR POUNDS STERLING 60 MILLION FOR THE NEXT 5 YEARS, CITING THE RISING COSTS OF KEEPING DRITISH TROOPS IN THIS CROWN COLONY ON CHINA'S DOORSTEP.
HE SAID THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID TRENCH, QUICKLY POINTED OUT THAT SUCH A BIG CONTRIBUTION WAS QUOTE QUITE OUT OF THE
QUESTION AND QUITE UNREASONABLE UNQUOTE.
BRITAIN TRIMMED DOWN ITS DEMAND AFTER DIFFICULT AND COMPLEX NEGOTIATIONS, HE ADDED. ENDS
DOUGLAS-HOME
FILES
HKD
FED
DEF D
FPAD
A & T D
CCD
NEWS D
PS
PUS
SIR L MONSON
SIR S CRAWFORD SIR S TOMLINSON HR ROSE
HR WILFORD
ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION HONG KONG DEF CONTR
COPIES TO
TIR G GODLING (TREASURY)
HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE
54 PALL MALL
165
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