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a Gulf burdensharing contribution: and his hope that
"disastrous repercussions" can be avoided. I attach a copy of the Governor's report of the voluntary donation to our war effort.
6.
The Governor tells us that, if the issue remains unresolved, he will wish to raise the matter with the Secretary of State when he sees him in London in early March. This could all turn into a dangerous controversy by the time the Secretary of State visits Hong Kong in early April.
A sub-plot is the rather tactless letter from
Mr Terence Brack (MOD), asking the Finance Secretary to come to London urgently for talks. This has cause much offence in Hong Kong, and a quiet word with Sir M Quinlan would be in order.
8.
I have not gone into the relationship between this issue and the complicated negotiations about defence lands in Hong Kong, which is going on with the Chinese. has recently described the state of play.
Mr Galsworthy
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R A Burns