Kong.
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However, the Defence Planning Staff have been reluctant to
agree to this, since they do not believe that it would save a
significant amount of time, and it would complicate their procedure.
4. The MOD believe that a change in the composition of the
garrison on the scale now proposed will make it necessary to
renegotiate the 1975 Defence Costs Agreement (which would normally
run until 1983). They will wish to ensure that the proposed
reinforcement does not lead to any additional charges against the
Defence vote. Although the Hong Kong Government may not wish to
concede their full negotiating position immediately, it is likely
that they will be prepared, if necessary, to meet the full extra
cost. They will not, however, wish to see any reduction in the
present UK contribtuion, which is very important as tangible
evidence of the UK commitment to Hong Kong. There have been some
indications that the MOD may also wish to ask for a share of the
profits to be made out of the valuable land that they have been
giving up under the 1975 Agreement: such a proposal would undoubtedly
prove contentious.
Short-Term Reinforcement
5. The MOD have recently agreed to continue, at least until April,
the temporary reinforcement of the Hong Kong garrison that was agreed
last summer when the numbers of illegal immigrants first rose to
crisis proportions. They will examine ways of continuing the
reinforcement after April if the situation still makes it necessary.
They will shortly be putting to the Hong Kong Government proposals
about how the costs should be shared. Hong Kong believe that this
should be on the basis agreed last summer. As we understand the
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