2191: COLONY:
LONDON, JAN 13, REUTER DEFENCE SECRETARY ROY MASON REPORTED TODAY TO PARLIAMENT THAT BRITAIN HAD OPENED TALKS WITH HONG KONG ABOUT SECURITY COSTS BUT HE DECLINED TO GIVE DETAILS.
HE HAD BEEN ASKED BY MR DAN JONES (LABOUR) WHAT REQUESTS BRITAIN HAD MODE TO THE COLONY TO INCREASE ITS FINANCIALS CONTRIBUTION FOR DEFENCE PURPOSES AND TO AGREE UPON A DEFENCE FORMULA THAT WOULD REDUCE DEFENCE PERSONNEL.
"I CANNOT GIVE DETAILS OF OUR PROPOSALS AT THIS STAGE BUT DISCUSSIONS WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG ARE PROCEEDING," MR MASON STATED IN A WRITTEN, ANSWER.
IN A RECENT STATEMENT MR.MASON OUTLINED ECONOMY MEASURES THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAD IN MIND ON THE DEFENCE BUDGET, INCLUDING SECURITY COSTS IN HONG KONG..
REUTER PC RJ W
(HL)
17 JAN1975
A/PR