to the foundations.
which would shake H.M.G.'s position if the Colony
263 of 283
He is very reluctant to do
this.
(179) on DEF.75/51/02
9.
The Governor therefore proposed in
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November that, as part of a deal on this question,
the War Office should surrender its lands in the
naval dockyard area and that, in consideration of
this and of an extra or two extra artillery units,
the Hong Kong Government would maintain its
defence contribution at £1 million of the next
five years, plus half the additional cost of
maintaining the additional units for the same
period. The Governor feels that an arrangement
of this kind would have a practical appeal to
unofficial members which would enable him to
present it to them in a favourable way. This
proposal, which was supported by C.B.F., Hong
Kong, was explained to the War Office and the
Ministry of Defence at a meeting under Sir Richard
Powell's chairmanship on November 19th, and at
that meeting the War Office was asked to examine:-
(a) whether it contemplated giving up its
property in the dockyard or continuing
to use it;
(b) the value of the property; and
(c) the details of title.
No indication has yet been received by the
Colonial Office as to whether this examination
is complete, and in the meantime the War Office
has agreed that no advance parties of the extra
artillery unit at present in Hong Kong should be
withdrawn until the beginning of February. It
is hoped that by then a decision will have been
reached on the extra artillery unit or units
for the Colony.
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