SECRET
678
GRS 200
PRIORITY
CYPHER CAT/A
FM HONG KONG 100335Z
SECRET
RECEIVED, IN REGISTRY No.51
1 8 SEP 1975
RE:
pick loli
MEX
179
284
TO PRIORITY F C O TELEGRAM NO 923 OF 10 SEPTEMBER.
DEFENCE REVIEW,
}
AS PART OF OUR PREPARATIONS FOR THE FORTHCOMING TALKS I SHOULD NOW TAKE MY CONSULTATIONS WITH UNOFFICIALS OF BOTH EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS A STAGE FURTHER, 30 FAR, THEY ARE AWARE OF THE SEPTEMBER 1974 COSTS OF THE 5 2/3RDS GARRISON AND OF H..G.'S WISH FOR A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN HONG KONG'S SHARE OF DEFENCE COSTS BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN TOLD THAT MINISTERS HAVE DECIDED HONG KONG SHOULD BE STRONGLY PRESSED TO PAY 75% OF THE TOTAL FROM THE OUTSET OF THE NEW AGREEMENT?' (YOUR TELEGRAM NO 593). 233 THEY ARE AWARE OF THE OPTIONS IN THE MARCH JOINT WORKING PARTY
REPORT BUT (FOLLOWING WORD UNDERLINED) NOT OF MINISTERS' DECISION TO REDUCE TO 4 1/3 MAJOR UNITS, THOUGH THEY HAVE PROBABLY CONCLUDED THAT BOTH OF THESE DECISIONS ARE LIKELY, THEY ARE AWARE THAT DISCUSSIONS ARE LIKELY TO TAKE PLACE SOMETIME IN THE AUTUMN BUT (FOLLOWING WORD UNDERLINED) NOT OF MR RODGERS' VISIT,
2. IT IS NOW NECESSARY FOR ME TO TELL UNOFFICIALS THAT H.M.Q. HAVE DECIDED THE HONG KONG CONTRIBUTION SHOULD BE 75% OF A GARRISON OF 4 1/3 UNITS, AND THAT MR RODGERS WILL EXPLAIN HUM.C.'S
POSITION IN LATE OCTOBER WITH A VIEW TO THE SIGNATURE OF A NEW D C A. IT IS ONLY WHEN I HAVE CONSULTED THEM AND GAUGED THEIR REACTION THAT I SHALL BE ABLE, AS REQUESTED IN YOUR TELEGRAM NO
674 TO ADVISE ON THE FUAN OF THE SUGGESTED PLENARY AND DETAILED DISCUSSIONS, MAY 1 THEREFORE BE AUTHORISED TO DISCUSS THEGE POINTS
WITH THEM?
263
13.
SECRET