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GR 250
PRIORITY
CYPHER/CAT A
FM HONG KONG 2401452
SECRET
SECRET
TO PRIORITY FCO TELNO 725 OF 24 JULY.
FOR O'KEEFFE FROM BRISTOW.
YOUR LETTER DATED 8TH JULY TO DAVIES:
117 SIGNALS UNIT.
TOP COPY
(207
226
(22727 ૪
SERVED IN
STRYNO.51
REGISTRY NO 51 2.8JUL WAS
THE MOD ARE AWARE THAT THE TAI MO SHAN RADAR IS ESSENTIAL TO THE EFFICIENT OPERATION OF KAI TAK AIRPORT AND IN VIEW OF THE ASSURANCES GIVEN TO THE DIRECTOR OF CIVIL AVIATION IN 1972 (COPIES OF THESE ARE BEING SENT TO YOU BY BAG), THE DECISION OF THE MOD TO CLOSE DOWN 117 S.U. AT SHORT NOTICE WOULD BE MUCH MORE ACCEPTABLE TO US IF THE MOD AGREED TO BEAR THE COST OF CONTINUED OPERATION BY THE RAF UNTIL 31ST MARCH, 1976. THE WITHDRAWAL OF 117 S.U. WITHOUT REPLACEMENT WOULD, OF COURSE, HAVE SERIOUS REPERCUSSIONS FOR ALL AIRLINES USING KAI TAK AND WE HOPE THAT
THIS POINT HAS BEEN GIVEN DUE WEIGHT.
2. NO FUNDS HAVE BEEN BUDGETED IN THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR
FOR THE OPERATIONAL COSTS OF THE TAI MO SHAN RADAR AND IF THE
MOD ARE UNWILLING TO RECONSIDER IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO GO TO
FINANCE COMMITTEE ON 30 JULY. FOR THIS PURPOSE I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR THE MOD'S ESTIMATE OF THE TOTAL COST TO THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OF CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE TAI MO SHAN RADAR FOR AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL PURPOSES FOR THE REST OF THIS FINANCIAL YEAR. THE RAF HERE WILL BE IN TOUCH WITH MOD DIRECT ABOUT THIS.
SECRET
13. YOUR SECOND