Parliament and the people will be quick to make the obvious
comparisons between your flat tax rate of 15% and our progressive rate
starting at 35%, your contribution to defence of less than a 1%
of GNP and ours of 5%, and to draw hostile conclusions if Hong Kong
is thought, rightly or wrongly, to be seeking to drive an unnecessarily
hard bargain. HMG's commitment to Hong Kong must ultimately rest.
on the goodwill and consent of the British Parliament and public. Opt.
9.
I hope I have made our position clear to you, with the sort
of plain speaking that is accepted among friends. And I hope that
nothing that comes out of our discussions will do anything to impair
that friendship or the excellent relationship which I know exists
between the Government, the Garrison and the population.
6
SEONGHU
}