fir Kerr
Original stupKK?
548/3
This Copy for: HRK idi informullen uniyfkeden en Para(s)
412
VISIT OF GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG
1.
We spoke this evening about the Governor's call on the Permanent Under-Secretary at 11.15 a.m. on 3 December. You thought the. Permanent Under-Secretary would like a copy of the Governor's programme which I attach.
2.
You also thought that the Permanent Under-Secretary might like to know the latest state of play on the defence agreement. Essentially the point we have reached is that Mr Rodgers and Sir Murray MacLehose signed a leads of Agreement on 1 November under which there is to be a garrison in Hong Kong of four infantry battalions (1 British and 3 Gurkha), a Gurkha engineer field squadron with its training wing, 5 naval patrol craft and 8 Wessex helicopters. The cost of this force at current prices is estimated at 42.5 million a year. The Hong Kong Government has agreed to contribute 50% of the cost of this garrison for the first year of the new agreement beginning in April 1976; 621% in 1977/78; and 75% in each suceeding year. HMG undertook to release land at present occupied by the RAF at Kai Tak airport and by the Army at Victoria Barracks. Hong Kong is responsible for the re-provisioning; of the essential facilities (mainly at 1 Tamar). We have just had a report from a working party indicating that it is feasible to release the land at Kai Tak in the year 1977/78 and the land at Victoria Barracks in 1978/79. It was the intention of the two Governments to announce the agreement on or about 8 December.
3. Hong Kong officials are arriving on Wednesday to discuss the remaining details of the arrangements with officials from the Ministry of Defence. It is hoped to complete these in time for the Governor's call on Mr Rodgers at 11.00 a.m. on 5 December.
"1.
The main point outstanding is the duration of the agreement. The Hong Kong Government pressed for 7 years but during his visit to Hong Kong, Mr Rodgers felt that he could do no more than stick by the offer of 5 years. However, on prompting from this Depur e
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