SECRET
2761
GR 246
PRIORITY
CYPHER CAT A
FM FCO 111755Z
SECRET
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG TELNO 700 OF 11/9.
DEFENCE COSTS (NAVY): YOU TELNO 867,
(मारार 10/1)
(262)
1. MOD HAVE ASKED US TO PASS YOU THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE:
BEGINS.
1. THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR DEFENCE HAS CONSIDERED YOUR PROPOSAL
TO POSTPONE FOR TWO MONTHS THE PLANNED DEPARTURE OF HMS WOLVERTON
AND YARNTON ON 15 SEPTEMBER. THE POSTPONEMENT PRESENTS VERY REAL
DIFFICULTIES FOR THE RN THROUGH ITS DOWNSTREAM EFFECTS, IN
PARTICULAR FOR PERSONNEL WHOSE PLANS WILL HAVE TO BE CHANGED AT
VERY SHORT NOTICE. MR RODGERS HAS AGREED TO YOUR REQUEST RELUCTANTLY
ON THE CLEAR UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE WILL BE NO SLIPPAGE IN THE
DATE FIXED FOR THE TALKS. IT IS NOW PLANNED THAT HMS WOLVERTON AND
YARNTON WILL SAIL FROM HONG KONG IN MID NOVEMBER.
2. MR RODGERS HAS ALSO APPROVED THE FOLLOWING DEFENSIVE PRESS LINE
TO BE TAKEN BY THE JOINT SERVICES PUBLIC RELATIONS STAFF IN HONG
KONG IN RESPONSE TO ENQUIRIES. QUOTE THE DEFENCE WHITE PAPER
SAID THAT AS A RESULT OF THE DEFENCE REVIEW HMG WOULD SEEK FROM
THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT A LARGER SHARE OF THE COST OF OUR FORCES
WHEN THE PRESENT COST-SHARING AGREEMENT, WHICH EXPIRES IN 1976,
IS RENEGOTIATED. THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE TWO PATROL CRAFT HAS BEEN
POSTPONED PENDING THE CONCLUSION OF A NEW DEFENCE AGREEMENT ON
WHICH DISCUSSIONS ARE CONTINUING BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND HONG KONG
GOVERNMENTS. UNQUOTE
ENDS.
SECRET
#S. WE