IN CONFIDENCE
11.
DEFENCE CONTRIBUTION
Hong Kong has paid an annual contribution to "imperial" defence
since 1863. Against a background of rising costs for HMG in Hong Kong
(the estimated running cost of all Service units in the Colony for
1972/73 is about £28 million), an increased Hong Kong contribution was
negotiated in October 1971 for a five year period. The Agreement provides
for an average annual contribution of £8 million;
arrangement the annual contribution was £5 million. Hong Kong's
contribution is a sensitive topic in the Colony;
Unofficial Members of Executive and Legislative Councils.
12.
AID
under the previous
especially amongst
In the past, we have given little aid to Hong Kong, whose needs are
rather different from our normal developmental criteria. It has, however,
been agreed that we should provide £500,000 for equipment and books for the
new Hong Kong Polytechnic, in addition to £400,000 agreed earlier for
technical institutes.
Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Department
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
May 1974
IN CONFIDENCE
8.