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for all practical purposes, therefore, any decision about the contribution must be taken against the background of the other problem.
It is the Governor's view that, if the posting of the two additional anita to Hong Kong is approved, he should be able successfully to put to his unofficials the argument that Her Majesty's Government are making special defence arrange..ents for Hong Kong at great expense, that they have therefore had it in mind to ask long Tong for an increased defence contribution but that, in recognition of the problem caused by the refugees and by way of indirect aid to Hong Kong in squatter resettlement, they have agreed not to press a claim for an increased defence contribution; he thinks that that explanation might satisfy his unofficiala and infor...ed public opinion that
Ber Eajesty's Government are giving some practical support to Hong Kong and thus enable him to get the Pinance Committee and Legislative Council to agree to the maintenance of the defence contribution at its present level.
5. Bearing in mind the delicacy and difficulty of these manoeuvres, we do not thing that they can be brought to a successful conclusion until the Einister of Defence has returned from the Paraat and a decision has been taken about the two units over and above the long-term garrison, by which time the debate in the United Fationa Ganeral assembly will probably also have been held. Meanwhile you may rest assured that this Department is no less anxious than the jar office that
/a conclusion
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