TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES
SPECIAL PA 26 MAR 1958 SECTION
FROM HONG KONG (Sir R. Black)
Simplex D. 25th March 1958
PRIORITY
TOP SECRET
No. 270
R. 25th
13.15 hrs.
Personal for Macpherson.
(216)
My telegram No.262.
You should know that one of the Unofficial Members today disclosed to the Colonial Secretary his intention of raising the whole question of the reduction in, and adequacy of, the garrison in connection with the military contribution in tomorrow's resumed Debate on the Estimates.
2. It was only with great difficulty that the Colonial Secretary dissuade him from this course but I am forced now to assume that the fact that there have been very considerable reductions in the garrison in the last 18 months is now becoming more widely know and furthermore it is clear that whether or not we approach the Finance Committee in due course on the particular issue of payment for the two additional units we shall have to discuss frankly (but in confidence) in Finance Committee at an early date the whole question of the Defence contribution and with it the size and adequacy of the garrison.
3. Since an Unofficial Member has now taken the initiative the treatment of the subject in Finance Committee will be a matter of even greater delicacy. The particular Member may even consider it necessary to press for some sort of public statement on the subject and I do not think that the present climate of opinion in Hong Kong is favourable for such public presentation. Unofficial Members, I understand are raising at tomorrow's debate H. M. G. 's failure to contribute towards the cost of resettling the refugees. There is feeling about the alleged inadequacy of the Admiralty's terms for the dockyard workers while Lee's visit to Hong Kong at present has highlighted concern about the possibility of some form of restriction on the export of textiles to the United Kingdom.
Distribution:
Page 203
Top Secret Automatic
Mr. Carstairs
Mr. Melville
Mr. Campbell
Mr. Fairclough
Mr. W.I.J. Wallace
Mr. Ashton
Page 203
TOP SECRET
Page
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES
FROM HONG KONG (Sir R. Black)
Simplex D; 22nd March, 1 958.
PRIORITY
TOP SECRET
No.262
R. 22nd
11
11