羲
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the Colony; that would lead to unfortunate speeches
in the Legislative Council and public controversy
generally in Hong Kong, to the detriment of their
relations with and confidence in H.M. Government,
and to trouble with M.P.s and others here. In the
last resort the Governor could, of course, use his
reserve powers to prevent any diversion of the
defence contribution to other heads of expenditure,
but in modern times that is always something
to be done only a the very last resort, and
in this case it would aggravate all the undesirable
!!
consequences mentioned above.
4.
As you say, the question of stationing two
additional units in Hong Kong has been the subject
of ministerial discussions. It is, we understand,
not likely to be decided until the Minister of
Defence has returned from his Far Eastern tour.
It seems however that in the decision on that subject
may lie the solution to our difficulties over the
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defence contribution.
While we and the Governor
are perfectly ready to consider the defence
contribution as something separate from the refugee
problem, as shown above local opinion will not
readily do so; 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 units to Hong Kong is approved,
should
he will be able successfully to put to his
unofficials the argument that H.M. Government is au
making special defence arrangements for Hong Kong
at great expense, that they have therefore had
it in mind to ask Hong Kong for an increased
defence contribution but that, in recognition the problem caused by the refugees and by way of
repognition o
of
/indirect