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SEOTÍ DECRET UALNYESHA GJ.
HONG KONG DEFENCE COSTS NEGOTIATIONS OCTOBER 1975
OPENING STATEMENT BY MINISTER OF STATE
BRIEF B
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1.
As you know, the purpose of my visit to Hong Kong is to put
HMG's position on the terms of a new defence costs agreement to
succeed the present arrangements which expire at the end of March
1976. The Government of Hong Kong has made a financial contribution
to the cost of the Hong Kong garrison for many years in a succession
of agreements. My task is to explain to you the reasons why it is
now necessary to ask for a very substantial increase.
Chopinat
2. I want to make it clear from the outset that HM' reaffirms its
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commitment to the integrity of Hong Kong and the security and well beine
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prosperity of its inhabitants. There is no weakening of this resolve
and are conscious that a garrison adequate in military terms]is an
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important manifestation of HG's commitment, both as an assurance
of internal security and as an indication to the outside world of
our continuing interest in-the-colony. But
But our view is that it can
no longer be right for MG to bear so much of the burden of providing
to the eat glen sorufii for your security. In past years your defence contribution has never
only
total
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--
represented more than a small part of the costs of the garrison
stationed-here-for your security. Under the present agreement the
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contribution agreed in 1971 has because of inflation and the
the botric
relative movement of carrencies
undated to wako umeon You /declined in value in relation
fers presure iko mal corr
to the garrison/from just under to about 17% now. in fol
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3. You may rightly point out that HG must bear equal responsibility
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for the level of contribution [embodied in the present agreement)
and that no-one could then have foreseen the impact of worldwide
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inflation and you may [reedily evince
nesa]to
willingness to redress the
imbalance occuring since 1971 But in HK'o viow that would not be
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