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towards our remaining Dependent Territories,
although we propose to make some economies in
the forces in Hong Kong and to seek from the
"ong Kong Government a larger contribution to
their cost when the present cost-sharing
agreement runs out in 1976."
4. We have consulted Sir Murray MacLe'ose about the
impact that the second version might have at his end.
His advice is that, while it is accepted by the official
side of t'e "long Kong Government as
as an accurate statement
of 'MG's objective, it could easily provoke public debate
in ong Kong with a hardening of opposition on the
proposition "We won't pay more money for less garrison".
5. The Governor is quietly working towards agreement
between Officials about a level of garrison and contribution
which would be acceptable to G and whic Executive Council
could be brought to accept. This process is a preliminary
to making the proposal public and putting it to Legislative
·
Council (whose Finance Committee, which has an unofficial
majority, votes the funds). The Governor had envisaged the
latter definitive process taking place in about May (ie. after
the Budget and, incidentally, after Te Queen's visit).
is advice is that it is an emotive issue, which should not
[]
become a matter of public debate before he is sure that he
has Executive Council's support for a specific proposition.
lle fears that the second proposed statement would have this
/undesirable
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