SECRET

7. The Governor accepts that Hong Kong's contribution,

whatever its amount, should be adjusted annually for changes

in pay and price levels during the period of the next

Agreement.

Courses open

8.

The Governor's advice leaves four courses open:-

X (a) The course decided on by the Committee on 9 september:

To plan for the reduced garrison costing £40M and, despite the Governor's advice,

to continge to press Hong Kong to contribute 75% of the cost

with an

ascalation clusa

شد

wriked to the

B

وبلند Cant

i.e. £30M. This would conform with the minimum

to meet the end.com

comitme it defence requirement and with the decision taken by

the Committee on 9 September on the proportionate

contributions of the UK and Hong Kong.

M

-

But, if the be likely to be

**

Governor's advice is correct, it could damage Hong

res acted by

Horng fo Kong's economy and might have to be imposed upon

Lod

Abeing

1

the Hong-Kong Government. Such a step would be the How how overmey fro

tat without constitutional precedent and could put our

relations with Hong Kong under severe strain.

(b) The course favoured by the Governors.

to plan for the reduced garrison costing £40M sind

per you!

to accept a Hong Kong contribution of £17M. i.e.

wakati ma in

little more than 40%-This would conform with the

1.40

Th

of

#

ملال

yone

minimum defence requirement and would not incréase

Ko-Ko "Contibula

more the 40% Hong Kong's economic difficulties to a eritical

maa

ì

iny...

extent. But Hong Kong's contribution would fall far

endged

Λ

short of the-proportion previously decided upon, by

bahseen shy and at 75% could be. the-Dommitter { the difference (£65M in all over an

Agreement lasting five years) would have to be found within the severely reduced Lefence budget). Shione

Kong have pointed to the benefit received by the UK

pares 6

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