SECRET
A Hamilton Esq MP
Minister for the Armed Forces
Ministry of Defence
ROYAL NAVAL PRESENCE IN HONG KONG
I thought it might be helpful if I set out in
writing the main points I made in our conversation on
12 February.
As you know, I am very concerned that no agreement
has yet been reached with the Hong Kong Government about
the financing arrangements for the retention of the Royal
Navy patrol craft in Hong Kong beyond 1992.
Sir Michael Quinlan's letter of 4 February to the
Governor leaves very little scope for compromise.
I hope and believe that we can start from the
premise that we would all like to find an acceptable
basis on which to retain these vessels. The CBF sees a
strong military case for this; and a recent JIC
assessment of the threat to Hong Kong highlighted the dangers posed by the increased number of incursions by
Past is evitert it. Chinese vessels into Hong Kong waters last year.
The
SECRET