GOVERMENT HOUSE HONG KONG.
WED 14 APR 93 09:38
PG.09
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WILLING TO SHOW FLEXIBILITY IN ACHIEVING THAT, EVEN IF IT MEANS ROLLING FORWARD SOME COSTS AGAIN INTO FY 94/95.
- THEY HAVE ALSO TAKEN TO HEART THE NEED FOR GREATER TRANSPARENCY, THEY ARE AIMING BY THE END OF THIS YEAR TO HAVE DISCUSSED IN DETAIL WITH HKG. THE COST PROFILE FOR THE GARRISON U TO JULY 1997 AND INTEND TO USE THE SIX-MONTHLY DCA REVIEW MEETINGS IN LONDON IN MAY AND HONG KONG IN NOVEMBER TO GO THROUG ALL THIS WITH YOU (THEY MAKE THE POINT THAT THIS WILL BE DEPENDENT ON POLITICAL DECISIONS ABOUT THE GARRISON RUN-DOWN).
- THEY ACCEPT THE NEED TO SCRUTINISE SUPPORT COSTS AND TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT SPECTACULAR EXPENDITURE. ON THE TWO SPECIFIC EXAMPLES, THEY ASSURED US THAT VERY FEW OF THE 700 OFFICIAL VISITORS WOULD BE CHARGEABLE TO THE DCA, AND THAT THE 168 VEHICLES REPRESENT A ROUTINE REPLACEMENT OF A WIDE VARIETY GARRISON VEHICLES (NOT JUST STAFF CARS EXCLAM) AS PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED WITH HKG. MORE DETAILED REPLIES WILL APPARENTLY COME TO YOUR DIRECT.
5.
IN SHORT, SIR T DAUNT AND I HAD THE IMPRESSION THAT THE MOD ARE TAKING SERIOUSLY THE NEED TO FIND WORKABLE SOLUTIONS AND TO JUSTIFY TO YOU THE COSTS OF THE GARRISON. THEY ARE HOPING FOR FLEXIBILITY ON ALL SIDES TO COPE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS ON YOUR PART FOR LEGCO APPROVAL OF ESTIMATES AND ON THEIRS FOR REPAYMENTS DUE TO THEM UNDER OCA.
7. THEY UNDERTOOK TO KEEP US AS WELL AS YOU IN TOUCH WITH THEIR THINKING ON COST-CUTTING.
HURD
DEFENCE AND FUBLIC ORDER: REVIEW OF THE GARRISON WITHDRAWAL PLAN A: SFORS
D: HE CS ES PA(3) JLG (1) PS/GH(4).
NOTE: PERSONAL COVERS
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