CONFIDENTIAL
this is a
Comment:
think that
to
I can only
reference no) on HWB iD
* 1 of E
16
which was subsequently
qualified by the last paragraph of 33 on that file.
2.3.72.
ett
b.
made it clear to FCO that they would expect Defence
Votes to be paid for the cost of the fence, and the
FCO acknowledged at that time that it was not a proper
charge on Defence Votes since it was in the nature of
an immigration control measure. We were advised by
our Command Secretary that the Hong Kong Government
wished the question of the "snake" fence to be dealt
with separately from the negotiations on other internal
security costs since they (the Hong Kong Government)
were under the impression that the FCO were going to
meet the cost of the fence. The FCO however told us
that they wished to know the final outcome of the
discussions on all the bills first before taking the
particular matter of the snake fence any further.
the cost of stores provided for additional works
services at the border £20,691. At an early stage
during the disturbances in 1967 when the situation was
still very confused and explosive, the Army was called
upon to stiffen the Hong Kong Police on the border, and
two Gurkha Battalions were deployed on the frontier,
where they dug in. Subsequently some work needed to be
done in order to protect these troops and the Army got
on with it from their own resources. By October/
November 1967 it had become evident that there was a
need for the continuing deployment of troops, and basic
accommodation requirements such as latrines, ablutions,
and cookhouses were constructed at military expense.
This activity formed part of Operation Highland Bonnet.
In 1968 under Operation Spring Clean works services
CONFIDENTIAL